December 11, 2025 The race to build infrastructure for the artificial intelligence era is intensifying in Michigan, with a new large-scale data center project entering the planning stages in Oakland County. This development underscores the state's growing appeal as a strategic location for high-power computing facilities, driven by its available land, energy resources, and proximity to major tech hubs. Data center developer Verrus has submitted plans for a significant new complex in Lyon Township, located approximately 45 miles northeast of the controversial Stargate project proposed by OpenAI in Saline Township. The Verrus facility, while attracting less public attention than its high-profile counterpart, represents a substantial investment in the region's digital infrastructure. According to proposal documents, the project calls for the construction of six buildings totaling more than 1.8 million square feet. The scale of the development positions it as one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest, signaling a sustained wave of capital investment into data center capacity. The project is currently in the early planning and approval phases with local authorities. The quiet advancement of the Lyon Township project, even as debate swirls around OpenAI's plans, highlights the broader industry trend of securing locations with adequate power and land to support the massive energy demands of next-generation AI workloads. Michigan, with its industrial base and evolving energy grid, is increasingly viewed as a viable alternative to traditional data center hotspots that are facing capacity constraints. For the local economy, such projects promise significant construction activity, long-term property tax revenue, and the creation of a limited number of high-skill operational jobs, further diversifying the regional economic base beyond its automotive heritage. Source: crainsdetroit
Verrus Proposes Major Data Center Complex in Michigan's Lyon Township
