Saline Township Stargate Data Center
Saline Township, Washtenaw County, MI[2][9]Developer: Related Digital[2][9]
Also known as The Barn
- Rumored
- Proposed
- Approved
- Under construction
- Operating
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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.
- Stated investment
- $16 billion[2]
- Permanent jobs (promised)
- 450
- Water use
- 20,000 gal/day
- Anticipated facility use per township FAQ
Key facts
Size & schedule
| Planned capacity | 1.38 GW [4] Contracted load under DTE special contracts (MPSC case U-21990) |
|---|---|
| Site size | 575 acres [3] Rezoned farmland; 250-acre data center footprint; Fortune described a 1,000-acre campus |
| Floor area | 1,650,000 sq ft [5] Three 550,000-sq-ft buildings per Oracle; Fortune reported 21 million sq ft |
| Buildings | 3 [2] |
| Stated investment | $16 billion [2] |
| Permanent jobs (promised) | 450 [2] |
| Construction jobs | 2,500 [2] |
How big is that? Data center sizes compared with football fields and Central Park.
Power
| Utility | DTE Electric [4] Utility pages: DTE Electric · data centers and bills |
|---|---|
| Grid operator | MISO [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 supply | DTE existing resources plus 1,383 MW of DTE-owned battery storage [4] |
| Backup generators | 14 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 permit | EGLE 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 case | MPSC 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 use | 20,000 gal/day [8] Anticipated facility use per township FAQ Source excerpt“the facility will use roughly 20,000 gallons a day” |
|---|---|
| Water source | On-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.” |
| Cooling | Closed-loop, air-cooled; consent judgment bans water-intensive evaporative cooling [5] |
Money & incentives
| Tax incentives | PA 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 term | 12 years [8]Source excerpt“The Township has agreed to approve the abatement for a period of 12 years.” |
| Payments / community benefits | Settlement includes a township farmland preservation trust fund ($4 million), a community investment fund ($2 million), area fire services funding ($8 million) 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.
Water and power
Water
Not disclosed. No source reviewed gives a water figure for this site. The Census does not estimate one.
Disclosed figures only, each as the cited source states it. Many are projections or permit limits, not metered use. How data center water and power use is measured, and every disclosed figure →
Timeline
Planning commission and township board (4-1) reject rezoning [1]
Related Digital and landowners sue township alleging exclusionary zoning [1]
Consent judgment filed in Washtenaw County Circuit Court allowing project to proceed [3]
EGLE issues a permit waiver allowing Related Digital to begin installing generators before the final air permit. [9]
OpenAI, Oracle and Related Digital announce Stargate site [2]
Construction begins [1]
MPSC approves DTE contracts with Oracle subsidiary Green Chile Ventures, with conditions [4]
EGLE issues the air quality permit for 14 diesel backup generators and a diesel firewater pump. [9]
EGLE issues a wetlands permit allowing a stream disturbance, culvert and three stormwater structures. [9]
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]
Washtenaw County judge denies a resident's motion to intervene in the consent judgment. [11]
AG Dana Nessel appeals MPSC approval to Michigan Court of Appeals [6]
Financing secured (Related Digital, Blackstone-affiliated funds, PIMCO-managed accounts) [2]
Partners and Gov. Whitmer celebrate construction; first building nearing completion [5]
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]
Issues are concerns and claims raised by the parties, officials or residents named in the cited sources. They are reported as attributed, not as findings by the Census.
Sources
- A Michigan farm town voted down plans for a giant OpenAI-Oracle data center. Weeks later, construction beganFortune · May 6, 2026 · news
- $16 billion data center campus in Saline Township secures financing, construction underwayCBS Detroit · Apr 28, 2026 · news
- Township in Michigan settles lawsuit, allows data center project to proceedDatacenterDynamics · Oct 30, 2025 · news
- MPSC approves DTE Electric energy contracts for data center with conditions to strengthen protections for other customersMichigan Public Service Commission · Dec 18, 2025 · government
- Oracle, Related Digital, Blackstone, OpenAI, Walbridge and Governor Whitmer Celebrate Construction of Stargate Campus in Saline TownshipOracle · Jun 1, 2026 · company
- AG Nessel Files Appeal of MPSC Approval of DTE's Saline Data Center ContractsMichigan Department of Attorney General · Apr 17, 2026 · government
- Nessel and environmental groups file initial arguments in appeal of DTE Saline data center contractMichigan Advance · Aug 10, 2026 · news
- Saline Township Data Center Project Information and Frequently Asked QuestionsSaline Township · Jan 28, 2026 · government
- State allowed Saline data center construction before final air quality permit approvalPlanet Detroit · Feb 24, 2026 · news
- Saline Township settles with data center developer: 'Lesser of two evils'Planet Detroit · Oct 21, 2025 · news
- Judge denies Saline Township resident's move to intervene in data center settlementPlanet Detroit · Feb 20, 2026 · news
Cite this page
Last updated Sep 22, 2026. Figures may change as records are updated — include the date you retrieved them.
| APA | Data Center Census. (2026). Saline Township Stargate Data Center. Retrieved from https://datacentercensus.com/dc/saline-township-mi |
|---|---|
| MLA | “Saline Township Stargate Data Center.” Data Center Census, Sep 22, 2026, https://datacentercensus.com/dc/saline-township-mi. |
| Link | https://datacentercensus.com/dc/saline-township-mi |
Republishing a figure or table? Attribute it to Data Center Census with a link to this page. The underlying data is downloadable as JSON and CSV; the press kit has standing figures and contact details.