LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Jim Runestad and state Rep. Jennifer Wortz will host a rally in Lansing calling on lawmakers to implement sensible policies that address growing concerns about data center development in Michigan.

Who:   Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake.

Rep. Jennifer Wortz, R-Quincy.

Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly.

Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township.

Rep. Doug Wozniak, R-Shelby Township.

Additional guests will be announced soon.

When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23.

Where: East steps and lawn of the Michigan State Capitol, 100 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing.

Brief: As concerns from residents surrounding data centers continue to grow, the legislators are calling on their colleagues to put sensible protections in place that put people ahead of data centers and properly scrutinize potential future developments.

Public opinion on data centers has declined statewide, and overall uncertainty remains the core issue among many residents. Questions have been raised about noise levels, environmental damage, strain on local infrastructure and costs being passed on to ratepayers, but Runestad and other lawmakers say those concerns are not being thoroughly examined or even outright ignored.

Runestad has called on Senate leadership to immediately take up his legislation to place a one-year moratorium on data center development in Michigan. The senator noted an important distinction in that his legislation would not ban data centers, but would help ensure the potential impacts on residents are fully considered before additional projects move forward.

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