Data Centers: Environmental and Community Impacts and the Path Ahead

Data Centers: Environmental and Community Impacts and the Path Ahead

March 5, 2026 | 7:00 pm | On Zoom

Register Here: Link

Suddenly, data centers are a hot issue all over Michigan. Twenty new data centers proposals are being pushed in our state by big and wealthy tech interests, at least half of which are huge hyperscale centers. Communities are wary and people are protesting.

How will new centers affect electricity demand and rates, water usage and water rates, and clean renewable energy targets set in Michigan law, and climate goals? Are communities right to worry about local impacts like air pollution and noise pollution? Are developers even giving us the facts about the big centers?

Paul Gruber, Director of Sustainability Solutions at Fresh Coast Climate Solutions, will present an overview of the evolving data center landscape, including practices, impacts, risks, and what is happening in Michigan. He will give us his evaluation of what it will take to curb negative impacts and make data centers more sustainable.

That is where all of us in the Sierra Club and the environmental community come in. Sierra Club staffers Bryan Smigielski and Tim Minotas will set out actions we all can take to slow the rush of data centers and force full disclosures, complete evaluations and fully sustainable practices on an industry that only wants full control, non-disclosure and quick approvals.

About SEMG Monthly Meetings & Presentations:

The Sierra Club Southeast Michigan Group (SEMG) features free presentations as part of SEMG's monthly, first-Thursday 7pm meetings. These meetings may be on Zoom or in person and begin with 10 minutes of announcements after which the speaker is introduced. The presentations last about an hour including Q&A and Sierra Club members and supporters, along with the general public, are invited.