Michigan Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Address Data Center Energy Demand and Protect Consumers

Contact: Emily Halvorson

Today, Michigan Senate lawmakers introduced legislation aimed at ensuring data centers bear the costs of their growing energy demand and protecting ratepayers from higher electricity bills, among additional labor standards and water protections. In response, Evergreen Action State Advocacy Director Courtney Brady released the following statement:

“As data center development explodes across the country, Michigan has an opportunity to set clear rules that help protect ratepayers. This package of bills is a first step toward making sure large new energy users cover the costs of the demand they place on the grid instead of shifting those burdens onto families and small businesses. But to fully deliver on that promise, data centers must be required to add new power resources to match their growing energy needs—and those resources should be affordable, reliable, and clean. We’re excited to see Michigan leaders beginning to address this challenge and look forward to working with lawmakers and advocates to build a framework that protects ratepayers, strengthens the grid, and further positions Michigan as a leader in smart energy policy.”

In April, Evergreen and NRDC released research showing that requiring data centers to pay their full share and bring their own required power would result in nearly $400 in savings over the next four years for Michigan ratepayers, while other ratepayer protections would increase those savings even more. Find the full analysis here.