Data center opponents take their case to the streets

by Joseph Schultz

About a dozen members of the Dorr community braved the falling snow Saturday afternoon to demonstrate their opposition to a proposed data center in Dorr. 

The protesters appeared at the intersection of 142^nd Avenue and 18^th Street, explaining that they want to educate the community about Microsoft’s intentions to bring a data center to Dorr.

The demonstrators say they are concerned about a data center’s excessive use of water and electricity.

Data center opponents attended Township Board and Planning Commission meetings in the same week last month to let both bodies know about their opinions.

Linda Dumont told TownBroadcast that “AI data centers require much more water and much more electric,” than a non-AI center. Dumont said Microsoft plans to use a closed loop water system, but she is worried that chemicals added to the water of such a system would be discharged, and contaminate local wells.

When it was pointed out that Microsoft has not yet submitted a site plan to the Township Planning Commission, Dumont said, “We want to nip it in the bud before we get too far or too deep in.”

Protester Chris Potter said she hopes to stop Microsoft, and to get a moratorium for data centers until the township can hear all of the residents’ concerns.  Potter, who lives about five miles from the proposed site, said she concerned that property taxes will go up to pay for additional infrastructure.

Furthermore, given the close proximity of her property to the data center, Potter worries that values will go down.

“We are not a city; we used to be a village, and this is ridiculous.” Potter lamented.