When Looking At Data Centers, Polling Says Transparency Is Top Of Mind For Michiganders

Michigan Advance

May 5, 2026

Due to concerns about water, energy and land use, large scale data centers used to develop artificial intelligence have become a contentious topic in Michigan. As a number of developers seek to establish new facilities or expand existing sites, recent polling finds that 77% of Michigan residents support regulations requiring more transparency from data center projects.

In a poll of 653 Michigan residents, commissioned by the progressive advocacy group Progress Michigan and conducted by Public Policy Polling, 69% of respondents said they would strongly support additional transparency laws after being informed that data centers receiving state tax breaks are not required to publicly disclose details related to their water and energy use, infrastructure costs or commitments to job creation.

Another 8% of respondents said they would somewhat support additional transparency laws, while 14% were opposed.

Overall, 76% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans polled said they would support more transparency regulations on data centers receiving tax breaks.

Taking the temperature on the issue, 27% of individuals polled had seen, heard and read “a lot” about hyperscale data center development in the state, while 46% had “a little” familiarity with the topic and 24% were not familiar at all.

When asked about their concerns with the development of hyperscale data centers in Michigan, water usage was a top issue among Democrats, with 44% listing it as their main concern. Among Republicans, the loss of farmland and other location concerns were their main issue with the projects, with 28% of respondents listing it as their biggest objection.

The poll also asked respondents whether using renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels to power data centers would make them more or less likely to support the construction of a new project. Overall, 28% said they would be more likely, while 21% said they would be less likely. Thirty-five percent said the energy source would have no bearing on their stance.

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