LANSING, Mich.—Governor Gretchen Whitmer today unveiled the Michigan Affordable and Responsible Growth Action Plan, designed to ensure data center companies bear the full costs of their development and operations, strengthen the electric grid, protect natural resources, and create local jobs without burdening Michigan residents.
“It’s simple: any data center company that wants to invest in Michigan must ensure working families do not pay a single penny for data center development or operations, protect our natural resources, and create local, good-paying jobs,” said Governor Whitmer. She called on all data center companies to sign a new pledge and urged the Michigan legislature to codify existing guardrails into state law to further protect residents from energy cost increases.
As part of the plan, the governor is asking data center companies to sign the Michigan Affordability and Responsible Growth Pledge. This pledge outlines commitments to protect consumers from higher energy bills, safeguard the environment, ensure transparency, and create local jobs. Casey Katims, Executive Director of U.S. Climate Alliance, applauded Governor Whitmer’s efforts, stating, “Michigan is stepping up with fellow states to raise the bar for ratepayer protections and environmental safeguards.”
The Action Plan features two main pillars. First, it calls on the legislature to adopt Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) data center safeguards into state law, including minimum billing demand, contract termination fees, credit and collateral requirements, and minimum contract terms. Second, the Michigan Affordability and Responsible Growth Pledge commits signees to create good-paying jobs and pay for all their own costs, including water and energy, preventing additional costs for Michiganders.
These initiatives build upon Michigan’s existing protections, which mandate that residential ratepayers do not incur increased costs due to commercial or industrial customers like data centers. State law requires utilities to serve each customer’s needs with resources from their corresponding rate classification. Data centers must also comply with Michigan’s 100% clean energy standard and are subject to comprehensive environmental oversight under the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) and federal Clean Air Act, with strict regulations on water use and quality.
Both aspects of the plan aim to hold data centers accountable for their development and solidify Michigan’s position as a leader in strong data center guardrails nationwide.