A University of Michigan student studying environmental science is weighing both the necessity and the consequences of rapid data center expansion in Michigan, especially as they emerge near Ann Arbor and Saline Township.
Amelia Isacksen, a junior at the University of Michigan and environmental education intern with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, said her research has led her to a complicated conclusion about digital infrastructure.
“As someone who works in environmental science, I have taken a lot of time to speak with professors, as well as do personal research about data centers, how they are necessary, and their impacts. In our modern technological age, they are necessary with our reliance on cloud computing. However, thinking critically about the way we implement them, regulate them, and develop them is vital,” Isacksen said.
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council is a northern Michigan-based environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting the region’s lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater through scientific water-quality monitoring, public educatio, and policy advocacy. The organization works with communities, schools and local governments to track pollution threats, promote conservation practices, and guide land-use decisions that affect freshwater systems across the region.
Frustration and NIMBYism
Isacksen said her initial reaction to new development proposals is that of concern, but also an awareness of how uneven opposition can shape where projects are built.
“My initial reaction is frustration – but I can also recognize that data centers are often subject to “NIMBYism”, or Not In My Backyard. Because wealthier communities have the resources to legally fight data center development, have the extra time to cause pushback in their communities, and are more interconnected to positions of power, they can leverage to dispute data center development. Lower-income, rural and communities of color are shouldered with these projects instead,” she said.
She pointed to the pattern of citing projects outside wealthier communities, such as Ann Arbor.
Environmental concerns
A major issue, she argues, is the environmental toll of large-scale digital infrastructure.
“There is a myriad of issues; data centers consume an obscene amount of water. When running massive data operations, water is run through the centers to keep the equipment cool,” she said.
She added that the environmental tradeoffs are becoming more urgent as climate pressures increase across the region.
Equity and who bears the burden in Washtenaw County
Isacksen highlighted the example of development patterns in Washtenaw County, where she says communities like Saline Township are absorbing impacts that more affluent areas resist.
RELATED: Pushback on Michigan’s Data Center Surge
She described concerns that nearby residents are not meaningfully included in decisions.
“I believe that young people’s opinions on data center development are often discounted. I also believe that no dissenting citizens’ opinions are being included in a meaningful way. Just recently in Washtenaw County, a judge denied Saline Township residents’ motion to intervene in the settlement that would allow for the massive Oracle and OpenAI Data center construction to continue. Despite massive public pushback, from the left and right, from those young and old, the voices of the people were discounted.”
She also emphasized that the consequences of these decisions will extend into the future workforce and daily life of younger generations.
Ethical consumption and limits of individual choice
Beyond policy, Isacksen said individuals are often left trying to navigate complicated ethical decisions in a system shaped by large-scale infrastructure. “It can be very hard to exist in this world while trying to be an ethical consumer. Do what you can when you can — divest from companies whose practices you disagree with, use alternative search engines, and decide where you personally draw the line.”
Looking Ahead: development, regulation and water
While she does not reject data centers outright, Isacksen argues that their development needs far more scrutiny and environmental planning.
“I think that while data centers are necessary, most of the economic benefits will not be reaped by Michigan communities. At this pivotal point in the world, where a transition away from the status quo of environmental degradation is imperative, I think it is unwise to value possible economic advantages over preserving Michigan’s greatest environmental assets – our land and water.”
She added a direct challenge to decision-makers shaping the region’s future:
“I want them to look at young people face-to-face and tell them that they would move directly next to the data center. I want them to look at young people face to face and say that they know we will have clean drinking water, water for our crops, water for our livestock. Until that can be done truly and honestly, I do not think there is an honest way to go about these developments.”
She serves as president of the University of Michigan chapter of the Sierra Club, where much of the student organizing around proposed data center development has taken place in coordination with allied environmental and advocacy groups. That work has included collaboration with the “Oil & Water Don’t Mix” campaign, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and Clean Water Action, reflecting a broader coalition focused on energy infrastructure, water protection and climate-related policy concerns in Michigan.
Rising energy demand and climate pressure
Across environmental and civic conversations, young people are increasingly focused on what large-scale data center and AI expansion means beyond technological progress. One of the most pressing concerns is environmental impact, particularly the massive energy demand required to power AI systems and the strain this can place on regional electric grids.
Many worry that without rapid investment in renewable energy, increased demand could slow climate progress or prolong reliance on fossil fuels.
Water use and local environmental stress
Water use is another major issue. Cooling systems in large data centers can require significant volumes of water, raising questions about long-term sustainability in regions already facing drought risk or ecological stress.
For many students, this turns abstract climate concerns into something more immediate: how digital infrastructure competes with basic community resources.
Environmental justice and siting decisions
Equally important are questions of equity and decision-making. Young people often point to the siting of data centers in rural or lower-income communities, where political and legal resistance may be weaker. This raises concerns about environmental justice and whether the benefits of digital growth are being matched by a fair distribution of its costs.
Economic promises and local impact
There is also skepticism about economic promises tied to these projects. While data centers are often described as engines of growth, some students question whether they deliver meaningful local job creation or whether increased infrastructure costs could ultimately be passed on to residents through utility rates.
Governance, transparency, and AI’s expanding footprint
Finally, many young people emphasize a broader, long-term question: who shapes the infrastructure behind artificial intelligence, and how transparent those decisions are. As AI systems become more embedded in everyday life, concerns extend beyond environmental impact to include governance, accountability and the lack of meaningful public input in decisions that will shape future generations.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
