Data Center Census

Saline Township, Washtenaw County, MI

Saline Township Stargate Data Center

Also known as The Barn

Under constructionProceeding under Oct. 2025 consent judgment after township denied rezoning; AG appeal of MPSC power-contract approval pending
  1. Rumored
  2. Proposed
  3. Approved
  4. Under construction
  5. Operating

A $16 billion, 1,383 MW data center campus of three single-story buildings on farmland in Saline Township, Washtenaw County, developed by Related Digital for Oracle and OpenAI's Stargate effort. The township board denied rezoning in September 2025, but a consent judgment settling Related's exclusionary-zoning lawsuit let the project proceed, and construction began in November 2025. The MPSC approved DTE's power contracts in December 2025; Attorney General Dana Nessel and environmental groups are appealing.

Key facts

Size & schedule

Planned capacity1.38 GW [4]
Contracted load under DTE special contracts (MPSC case U-21990)
Site size575 acres [3]
Rezoned farmland; 250-acre data center footprint; Fortune described a 1,000-acre campus
Floor area1.7 million sq ft [5]
Three 550,000-sq-ft buildings per Oracle; Fortune reported 21 million sq ft
Buildings3 [2]
Stated investment$16 billion [2]
Permanent jobs (promised)450 [2]
Construction jobs2,500 [2]

Power

UtilityDTE Electric [4]
Grid operatorMISO [4]
MPSC order requires DTE to analyze the data center's load using MISO loss-of-load results
Source excerpt
“Provide a updated analysis in its next capacity demonstration showing the impact of the data center's load on the utility's capacity requirements under direct loss of load methodology using the Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc.'s most recent indicative direct loss of load results.”
Power supplyDTE existing resources plus 1,383 MW of DTE-owned battery storage [4]
Backup generators14 diesel-fired emergency generators and 1 diesel fire water pump [8]
Source excerpt
“the only sources of emissions will be 14 diesel-fired emergency generators and 1 diesel”
Air permitEGLE air quality permit issued Jan. 13, 2026 for 14 diesel backup generators and one diesel firewater pump [9]
Source excerpt
“The EGLE air quality permit issued Jan. 13 allows for the installation of 14 diesel backup generators and one diesel firewater pump for use during fire emergencies.”
Utility commission caseMPSC Case No. U-21990 [4]
Source excerpt
“DTE Electric subsequently filed an application for approval of the special contracts in Case No. U-21990.”

Water

Water use20,000 gal/day [8]
Anticipated facility use per township FAQ
Source excerpt
“the facility will use roughly 20,000 gallons a day”
Water sourceOn-site well with its own waste treatment system [10]
Source excerpt
“Water at the site will not be used for cooling, and the facility will have its own well and waste treatment system.”
CoolingClosed-loop, air-cooled; consent judgment bans water-intensive evaporative cooling [5]

Money & incentives

Tax incentivesPA 198 industrial facilities property tax abatement (up to 50% reduction in real and personal property taxes), subject to State Tax Commission approval [8]
Source excerpt
“industrial property tax abatements can amount to a 50% reduction in both real and personal property taxes for the duration of the abatement period. The Township has agreed to approve the abatement for a period of 12 years.”
Abatement term12 years [8]
Source excerpt
“The Township has agreed to approve the abatement for a period of 12 years.”
Payments / community benefitsSettlement includes $4 million for a township farmland preservation trust fund, $2 million for a community investment fund, $8 million for area fire services, and a decommissioning fund [10]
Source excerpt
“The deal includes $4 million for a township farmland preservation trust fund; $2 million for a community investment fund; $8 million for area fire services; protections for area water resources; and a decommissioning fund for the facility.”

Figures are as stated by the cited source. Where sources disagree, each figure is shown.

Timeline

  1. Planning commission and township board (4-1) reject rezoning [1]

  2. Related Digital and landowners sue township alleging exclusionary zoning [1]

  3. Consent judgment filed in Washtenaw County Circuit Court allowing project to proceed [3]

  4. EGLE issues a permit waiver allowing Related Digital to begin installing generators before the final air permit. [9]

  5. OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital announce Stargate site [2]

  6. Construction begins [1]

  7. MPSC approves DTE contracts with Oracle subsidiary Green Chile Ventures, with conditions [4]

  8. EGLE issues the air quality permit for 14 diesel backup generators and a diesel firewater pump. [9]

  9. EGLE issues a wetlands permit allowing a stream disturbance, culvert and three stormwater structures. [9]

  10. Residents file a mandamus complaint in Washtenaw County Circuit Court alleging the Zoning Board of Appeals failed to hold a required hearing on a data center permit. [11]

  11. Washtenaw County judge denies a resident's motion to intervene in the consent judgment. [11]

  12. AG Dana Nessel appeals MPSC approval to Michigan Court of Appeals [6]

  13. Financing secured (Related Digital, Blackstone-affiliated funds, PIMCO-managed accounts) [2]

  14. Partners and Gov. Whitmer celebrate construction; first building nearing completion [5]

  15. Nessel and environmental groups file initial briefs in consolidated appeal [7]

Issues raised

  • Project proceeded despite township's rejection of rezoning, via court settlement [1]
  • AG and environmental groups say MPSC approval was rushed and ex parte, with redacted contracts and risk to ratepayers [6][7]

Sources

  1. A Michigan farm town voted down plans for a giant OpenAI-Oracle data center. Weeks later, construction began
    Fortune · May 6, 2026 · news
  2. $16 billion data center campus in Saline Township secures financing, construction underway
    CBS Detroit · Apr 28, 2026 · news
  3. Township in Michigan settles lawsuit, allows data center project to proceed
    DatacenterDynamics · Oct 30, 2025 · news
  4. MPSC approves DTE Electric energy contracts for data center with conditions to strengthen protections for other customers
    Michigan Public Service Commission · Dec 18, 2025 · government
  5. Oracle, Related Digital, Blackstone, OpenAI, Walbridge and Governor Whitmer Celebrate Construction of Stargate Campus in Saline Township
    Oracle · Jun 1, 2026 · company
  6. AG Nessel Files Appeal of MPSC Approval of DTE's Saline Data Center Contracts
    Michigan Department of Attorney General · Apr 17, 2026 · government
  7. Nessel and environmental groups file initial arguments in appeal of DTE Saline data center contract
    Michigan Advance · Aug 10, 2026 · news
  8. Saline Township Data Center Project Information and Frequently Asked Questions
    Saline Township · Jan 28, 2026 · government
  9. State allowed Saline data center construction before final air quality permit approval
    Planet Detroit · Feb 24, 2026 · news
  10. Saline Township settles with data center developer: 'Lesser of two evils'
    Planet Detroit · Oct 21, 2025 · news
  11. Judge denies Saline Township resident's move to intervene in data center settlement
    Planet Detroit · Feb 20, 2026 · news