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Ypsilanti Township Uses Water Authority to Block University of Michigan Data Center
MI
Data Centers / Water
April 17, 2026
Source: UWIRE
The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees approved a resolution requesting the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority place a water moratorium on hyperscale and mid-size data centers. The move directly targets the University of Michigan's planned $1.25 billion data center, developed in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory, which would require 500,000 gallons of water daily for cooling.
Here's the leverage play: while the University is exempt from local zoning under Michigan's Constitution, it is not exempt from the township's authority over water service. Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo, who also serves on YCUA's Board of Commissioners, said she believes the authority will approve the moratorium. The University called the shift “confusing and disappointing.” Local officials had previously raised concerns that the data center's role in nuclear weapons development could make Ypsilanti a military target.
YCUA's board meets April 22 to consider the moratorium.
What You Can Do
Attend the YCUA board meeting on April 22. The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority board will vote on the water moratorium. This is the decision point — if YCUA approves, the University of Michigan loses its path to 500,000 gallons daily regardless of its zoning exemption. Meeting details available through the YCUA website.
Ask whether your water or sewer authority has similar leverage. In communities where zoning authority is limited — near state universities, federal facilities, or in jurisdictions with preemptive state laws — utility service approvals may be the only leverage point available. Contact your local water authority to ask whether data center connections require separate approval.
Community Takeaway
This is a notable strategy: using utility service authority — rather than zoning — to influence data center siting. In jurisdictions where zoning authority is limited (as with state universities or on federal land), water and sewer service approvals may be the only leverage point available. The 500,000 gallons daily for a single facility is worth comparing to the Potomac River watershed data — cumulative water demand across multiple facilities is the metric that matters most.
Source: UWIRE, April 17, 2026.