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SALINE TOWNSHIP, MI - Construction is in full swing on one of Michigan’s largest-ever building projects, a $16 billion data center campus in Saline Township, backed by OpenAI. The project, which spans 250 acres, recently secured significant funding and is set to be completed in 2027.
Located along West Michigan Avenue, about 10 miles southwest of Ann Arbor, the expansive site began development last fall. By February, crews were actively working on preparing the land, moving massive amounts of earth to establish the campus’s footprint. The facility will ultimately encompass approximately 2.2 million square feet, housing data centers and support buildings, and will require an estimated 1.6 gigawatts of electricity to operate.
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Recent observations show visible progress, with the first buildings beginning to take shape on-site. A continuous flow of trailers and cement trucks has been entering and exiting the area, indicating the scale and intensity of the ongoing construction efforts.
The project, branded as "The Barn", is being developed by Texas-based Related Digital for technology firms Oracle and OpenAI, the latter known as the creator of ChatGPT.
While the data center promises to be a monumental addition to Michigan’s infrastructure, it has faced significant local pushback. Disputes with the Saline Township board and residents have sparked lawsuits, a recall effort, and even political fallout. The controversy reached new heights when the Saline Township treasurer resigned, citing threats linked to the project.
With its $16 billion investment secured and progress visibly advancing, the project is anticipated to play a pivotal role in powering cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications. However, as construction continues, community tensions surrounding the facility remain an ongoing challenge.
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