LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has submitted formal public comment to the Michigan Public Service Commission in support of the multi-billion-dollar OpenAI Stargate project, which is poised to become the largest business investment in Michigan’s history. The facility, developed by Oracle and Related Digital, is expected to create more than 2,500 union construction jobs, over 450 on-site permanent jobs, and 1,500 additional community jobs across the region.
Governor Whitmer emphasized the project’s commitments to ratepayer protection, responsible water and land use, and adherence to Michigan’s strong environmental standards.
“Michigan has always been a leader in building the next big thing,” Governor Whitmer stated. She highlighted that data centers are an inevitable part of America’s economic future and noted Michigan’s opportunity to set a national examplefor constructing these facilities in a way that supports jobs while protecting natural resources.
The governor pointed to the project’s economic impact, including benefits for local restaurants, small businesses, school funding, public safety, and infrastructure. Whitmer also underscored Michigan’s competitive advantages — including its workforce, business climate, and university talent pipeline — that positioned the state to secure this historic project.
“As Michiganders, we take pride in our environment and natural resources,” she added, noting that she would only support a project that meets the “state’s highest environmental standards.”
To that end, the Stargate facility will use a closed-loop, air cooling system instead of traditional water-intensive cooling, ensuring it will not require additional water from the Great Lakes. The project will also preserve hundreds of acres of farmland, wetlands, and open space for future generations.
The governor also noted protections against increased electricity rates. DTE already provides the necessary energy load, and Oracle will fund any required grid upgrades at its own expense, consistent with state law.
With growing global competition for advanced data center capacity, Whitmer called the project a matter of both national security and economic competitiveness, urging timely approval.
“Let’s reject false choices as we work together to create thousands of good-paying jobs and protect our environment and outcompete other states and nations. Let’s get it done,” Whitmer said.
Project Details
The OpenAI Stargate facility will be one of the most advanced AI infrastructure centers in the United States, designed for efficient land, water, and energy use. Key features include:
- No need for additional power generation
- A closed-loop cooling system requiring no additional water from the Great Lakes
- More than 700 acres of preserved open space, including farmland, wetlands, and forest
- An MDOT traffic study grade of “A”, indicating minimal impact on local traffic
- $14 million in additional local investments by Related Digital, including support for fire departments, a community investment fund, and farmland preservation
Michigan’s robust construction and tech workforce, along with proximity to the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University, were key factors in the state’s selection. Recent bipartisan legislation signed by Governor Whitmer to reduce costs for high-tech infrastructure construction further strengthened Michigan’s advantage.
