LANSING, (Mich.) WLNS — Amid a Tuesday protest at the State Capitol, Michigan State University hosted a panel about the future of data centers in the state.
6 News has previously reported on a proposed data center located in Lansing, but Tuesday’s panel also looked at the impact centers could have on Mid-Michigan’s rural communities.
The panel included experts from across the country and an MSU professor, all bringing different perspectives on data centers. Panelists say, despite the popular belief that all data centers will raise electricity rates, results can actually vary. They say sometimes, the presence of these centers can actually lead to lower retail electricity costs.
That happens as it gives providers a really big customer, which helps cover the price of expensive infrastructure upgrades. But, in communities where are data center puts a huge strain on available power, prices can rise.
Another challenge is the heat these facilities produce, but some say it could actually be re-purposed to provide warmth to nearby homes or businesses.
However, they warn that with the demands of AI, data centers are increasing in size and demand.
“So based on the basic physics, you’re importing a lot of increasing more and more power, electricity, you’re gonna produce more and more heat. So nowadays you’re gonna see the data centers are getting bigger and bigger, so it requires higher and higher power,” said MSU civil engineering professor Dong Zhao.
This means these centers will go through a lot of water, according to Zhao, as it is used as a coolant. This is why the Great Lakes region, with all of its fresh water, is beginning to attract more data centers.
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