00:00One small town voted to prevent an AI data center from being built, but construction went ahead anyway.
00:06What is now a $16 billion project for OpenAI and Oracle started in a small town in Michigan with a
00:14board vote.
00:14Last September, Saline Township board members voted 4-1 against allowing a proposal for an AI data center to proceed.
00:23The developer of the data center promised hundreds of new jobs, tax revenue for the town, as well as access
00:30to the University of Michigan.
00:32But there was immediate opposition from the residents as well as the board.
00:37This is land that had been zoned agricultural for decades, even hundreds of years.
00:43So they didn't want it to become anything industrial, let alone a noisy data center that would have months of
00:52construction.
00:52The board voted no, but it turns out when it comes to zoning, no does not always mean no.
00:59Two days later, the town was sued by the developer, and a small town like Saline Township wouldn't be able
01:06to defend itself in a lawsuit.
01:08Ultimately, they were advised to settle.
01:10I traveled to Saline Township in March.
01:13I spoke with residents, board members, I spoke to the developer, Related Digital, as well as OpenAI and Oracle, and
01:21even the utility, DTE, which is providing the electricity.
01:25Residents are really concerned about things like water, the environment, electricity, whether a gas plant will be built, and much
01:34more.
01:35For more on the data center debate, read my feature on Fortune.com.
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