University Claims Withholding Water From Nuclear Weapons Data Center Is ‘Unlawfully Discriminatory’ to Data Centers
The University of Michigan has sent a legal threat over a yearlong pause that would prevent water hookup to a proposed nuclear weapons research and AI data center. Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of Michigan are looking to build a $1.2 billion, 220,000 square foot data center in Ypsilanti Township. On April 22, the Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority (YCUA) passed a 365-day moratorium on the delivery of water to hyperscale data centers in the area while it conducted environmental sustainability and long-term water use studies.
The University handed over a legal communication to the YCUA, claiming that the moratorium is “unlawfully discriminatory” against data centers. It stated its intention to pursue all rights and claims for relief if its demands are not met. The university argues that any sector-specific moratorium would be legally invalid as it would lack a legitimate utility or public health basis. They also claim that the area has sufficient water capacity, citing various legal precedents and statements from YCUA leadership.
The University of Michigan did not respond to 404 Media’s request for comment.
Key Takeaways
- The University of Michigan is threatening legal action against the Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority over a water moratorium for a proposed data center.
- The university claims the moratorium unfairly targets data centers and violates legal standards.
- Data centers are often controversial, causing noise pollution, affecting water quality, and increasing utility bills for their neighbors in the United States.
- Local opposition to the Ypsilanti Township data center has been exacerbated by its connection to America’s nuclear weapons industry.
Originally published at 404media.co. Curated by AI Maestro.
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