Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that six artificial intelligence and data center companies have signed the Michigan Affordability and Responsible Growth Pledge, marking the first state-level initiative of its kind to ensure responsible development and protect residents from associated costs.
By signing the pledge, companies commit to investing in the electric grid, utilizing clean energy, hiring Michiganders, safeguarding natural resources, and covering the full cost of data center construction and operation. "We’ve seen how data centers can go wrong in other states, which is why on my watch, we’ve ensured Michiganders never see a rate increase and can rely on some of the strongest environmental protections for people and communities,” said Gov. Whitmer.
The initial signatories include Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and Verrus. Governor Whitmer urged all data center companies to join the pledge and called on the legislature to codify the state's strong guardrails into Michigan law, further cementing protections for communities and working families.
This pledge is a key pillar of the Michigan Affordable and Responsible Growth Action Plan, which also seeks legislative adoption of Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) safeguards. These safeguards include minimum billing demand, contract termination fees, and credit requirements, ensuring data centers pay their full costs. The plan builds on existing state laws that prevent residential rate increases due to commercial energy use, enforce a 100% clean energy standard, and provide comprehensive environmental oversight through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for air, land, and water use.