A proposed **$1.25 billion** advanced computing campus in Washtenaw County, Michigan, has sparked significant opposition from local officials. The development, which is linked to the **University of Michigan** and **Los Alamos National Laboratory** (LANL), aims to establish a supercomputing center featuring a **230,000-square-foot** federal research facility and a **50,000-square-foot** center for nonclassified research conducted by university students and faculty. Construction is anticipated to commence in **2028**.
The partnership between the university and LANL includes a **five-year** research contract valued at **$15 million**, focused on advancing computing technologies, particularly in the realms of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. According to the university, this collaboration is expected to create hundreds of jobs and drive progress in critical areas such as national security, health, and energy.
Despite the potential benefits, local officials in Ypsilanti, the community most impacted by the project, have voiced their concerns. In **August**, the **Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees** unanimously passed a resolution urging the university and LANL to reconsider the project’s site. Following this, the **Ypsilanti City Council** also adopted a resolution opposing the development, citing worries about its implications for nuclear weapons research.
The funding for the campus will come from various sources, including **$300 million** from LANL, a **$100 million** grant from the state of Michigan, and **$220 million** directly from the university. The remaining **$630 million** is expected to be financed by the university, as noted by **Kay Jarvis**, the university’s Director of Public Affairs.
Local Concerns Over Project Transparency and Environmental Impact
Critics, such as **Vidhya Aravind**, a local organizer with the group **Stop the Data Center**, have raised questions about the transparency surrounding the project’s classified research components. Aravind believes that the secrecy surrounding certain aspects of the project, including its environmental impact and water use, may obscure critical information from the public. Data centers, which support high-level computing, often require substantial cooling resources, and the type of cooling system employed can significantly affect overall water and power consumption.
“Everything is under NDA. They’re just keeping everyone in the dark about what exactly it is they’re building,” Aravind asserted.
Although Michigan has access to more fresh water compared to New Mexico, Aravind is concerned about the cumulative impact of this project alongside several other data center developments being considered statewide. “It is becoming a statewide issue that needs state-level change, and it is a nationwide issue how rapid these expansions are and how uncontested they are,” she added.
In a statement to **The New Mexican**, Jarvis emphasized that the partnership with LANL is set to enhance the university’s research capabilities. “The partnership is anticipated to strengthen U-M’s impact and excellence in research and education, offering new capabilities and opportunities to work on tough challenges such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, infectious disease, and clean energy solutions,” she stated.
The **University of Michigan** will not be bound by local zoning codes due to its regulatory autonomy, which has allowed it to pursue this project without the same restrictions that private developers might face. Jarvis indicated that the university is currently evaluating two potential sites for the campus, with the final decision to be made jointly by the university and LANL.
The local pushback against this ambitious project highlights the ongoing tensions between technological advancement and community concerns regarding transparency, environmental sustainability, and the implications of advanced research in sensitive areas. As the discussion unfolds, it remains to be seen how these differing perspectives will shape the future of the proposed computing campus in Michigan.