Data centers would need local community benefit agreements

A data center owner or operator would have to apply for local review, obtain local approval, and sign an approved community benefit agreement before starting construction or operation. The rule would cover data centers in Michigan and the local county, township, city, or village where each center would be built or operated. The agreement would have to include the owner or operator and the local government or one of its agencies. The local government could approve the agreement only if it finds that the agreement would support the area's public health, safety, general welfare, people, land, or resources. The local government would have to approve or deny the application within 90 days after receiving it. The requirements would apply before construction or operation begins.

A local government may deny or refuse a permit, site plan, land-use approval, variance, easement, certificate, or similar authorization for a data center. The option would apply when the local government has not approved a community benefit agreement for that data center. The local government would not be required to deny the authorization; it would have permission to do so. The option would apply while the data center lacks a community benefit agreement approved under the bill's review process.