While other states have built data centers that raised costs for residents and hurt communities, Jocelyn Benson has been clear that any data center built in Michigan needs to do right by Michiganders  – that means creating well-paying union jobs while protecting natural resources and lowering energy costs.

In Jocelyn’s own words: “data centers [can] come to Michigan only if they can improve and deliver prosperity, well-paying union jobs, and affordable, low energy costs for our residents.” 

As governor, Jocelyn will implement checks and guardrails to shape projects and ensure a transparent process approving any new projects. With clear standards and enforceable requirements, Michigan can invest in growing the jobs of the future while embracing opportunities to support our clean-energy and power grid buildout. Data centers and corporations that violate these guardrails will not be able to operate in Michigan. 

The enforceable requirements will mandate: 

• Public hearings to ensure projects do not go through without residents having the opportunity to share their concerns.  
  

• Transparency and disclosure reporting to ensure no backdoor deals that exclude communities.  
  

• Requiring developers to prove prior to construction that the data center will not abuse natural resources – from water to land.
  

• Data Centers bear the cost of additional energy usage. Not the consumer. 
  

• Union contracts that ensure the creation of well-paying jobs.