FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 4, 2025
Macomb Defenders Rising Speaks Out on DTE Saline Township Data Center, Featured in Planet Detroit
Macomb Defenders Rising, an Indivisible-affiliated movement committed to protecting communities and advocating for policies that advance justice, equity, and environmental responsibility, submitted a statement this week opposing DTE Energy’s proposed 1.4-gigawatt data center in Saline Township. The statement was presented at a Michigan Public Service Commission hearing and featured in Planet Detroit, highlighting the group’s advocacy on behalf of Michigan families.
Full Statement:
“Macomb Defenders Rising, an Indivisible-affiliated movement, committed to protecting communities and advocating for policies that advance justice, equity, and environmental responsibility — which is why we’re speaking out on a project that impacts all Michigan families. I appreciate the opportunity to comment on DTE’s application for the proposed 1.4-gigawatt data center in Saline Township.
This project is enormous — equivalent in electricity use to over one million homes — and will strain local water systems and increase pollution, yet it provides very few long-term jobs to justify that impact.
DTE often uses the language of “innovation,” but this is a massive industrial load that will fundamentally reshape Michigan’s energy demand.
Under the state’s 2023 clean-energy law, a jump in energy demand like this gives DTE a built-in loophole to delay the transition to clean energy, expand fossil fuel use, and build more gas infrastructure — all at the expense of Michigan families.
We are already facing rising costs for food, housing, healthcare, and electricity. If this contract is approved without strong, enforceable protections, DTE will likely shift the costs of powering this data center onto ratepayers. History shows they have done exactly that with past infrastructure projects.
Chair Scripps emphasized protecting residential and business customers from bearing these costs — a priority we strongly support. But we also need transparency and binding guarantees on cost allocation, infrastructure expansion, and emissions impact. Without them, this data center becomes a blank check for DTE, and Michigan families will pay the price.
For these reasons, I urge the Commission to reject this contract outright. Our communities should not subsidize a project that increases energy demand, weakens clean-energy progress, and exposes families to long-term economic and environmental harm.
Thank you for your time and for giving the public a real chance to be heard.”
During the hearing, Macomb Defenders Rising’s member Ron S. joined over 800 residents urging regulators to carefully evaluate the project’s impact on energy costs, reliability, and Michigan’s clean energy commitments. The hearing drew widespread attention, with over 5,000 public comments submitted. Macomb Defenders Rising’s advocacy underscores the importance of holding corporations accountable and ensuring community voices are central in decisions that affect the environment, public resources, and family budgets.
To read the full article in Planet Detroit, visit https://planetdetroit.org/2025/12/dte-data-center-hearing/