Developers Explore Solon Township Farmland for Potential Data Center Amid Community Debate
January 9, 2026
A proposal to convert agricultural land in West Michigan into a data center campus highlights the ongoing tension between rapid digital infrastructure expansion and the preservation of rural communities. As demand for cloud computing and AI services surges, technology giants are increasingly scouting for large, affordable tracts of land with access to power and fiber, often bringing them into conflict with existing zoning and local lifestyles.
Developers, assisted by the regional economic development agency The Right Place, are evaluating a parcel of farmland in Solon Township, Michigan, for a potential data center project. The site is located west of U.S. 131, between 16 and 17 Mile roads, and is currently zoned primarily for agricultural and residential use. The Right Place confirmed in a statement that "a few leading U.S.-based technology companies" are exploring data center development in the region, including this Solon Township location, and are currently in the due diligence and planning phase.
This site is the latest in a series of data center pursuits in West Michigan. In 2024, Microsoft purchased property in nearby Gaines Township for a planned facility. However, a separate proposed data center in Lowell Township was put on hold after significant public opposition led the municipality to withdraw from the process, underscoring the community challenges such projects can face.
The potential Solon Township development, which would border the Cedarfield neighborhood, has already sparked a mixed reaction from residents, reflecting a common divide. Some neighbors, like Bruce Jenvey, worry about the loss of rural character, citing concerns over light pollution and disruption to wildlife. "This is a very peaceful country... setting to live in," Jenvey said. "I'm seeing a building with a parking lot and well-lit, and suddenly we're urban again." Another resident, Don Bowerman, stated he would consider moving if the project proceeds.
Others see potential economic and technological benefits. Resident Ariadne Winquist views the exploration positively: "I do see it as progress... my kids are all in for all the data, the computer stuff, and for them, they're going to need it."
To date, no formal development proposal or rezoning application has been submitted to Solon Township officials. The project remains in a preliminary investigative stage, with any future plans subject to public review and approval processes.
Source: fox17online
