IN THE NEWS: Mills discusses data centers with Inside Climate News

Taubman College’s Sarah Mills was quoted in an article by Inside Climate News about a new data center coming to Saline Township, Michigan. Despite community resistance, the township settled a lawsuit over allegations of exclusionary zoning brought by Related Digital, clearing the way for the developer to build a new data center in the area.

Mills is an associate professor of practice in urban and regional planning and director of U-M’s Center for EmPowering Communities, which works with communities across the urban-rural spectrum to leverage decarbonization opportunities, including locating and developing sites for large-scale renewables like wind and solar, that advance their goals and enhance local quality of life. She spoke about the inconsistent impacts of data centers on local energy and land use.

Because of the lack of standardization, Mills said local communities should take a proactive approach, evaluating their land use and energy capacity before large developments are planned. 

“I think this [shift] is an invitation, an opportunity for rural communities to really assess what it is that they care about and want to be in the future,” she said.

Read more on the Inside Climate News website.