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.
Luther Blackburn, YCUA’s executive director, told 404 Media that the organization had no comment on potential or pending litigation but did confirm receiving a legal communication from the university. “YCUA staff are working on a Request for Proposal to complete the investigations and studies outlined in the moratorium,” he said. “I believe YCUA has acted lawfully and in accordance with industry best practices by issuing the moratorium.”
Key Takeaways
- The University of Michigan disagrees with the Ypsilanti Community Utility Authority’s 365-day moratorium on water delivery to data centers, claiming it is “unlawfully discriminatory.”
- The university argued that the moratorium does not align with legal precedents and industry best practices.
- Despite the university’s claims, Ypsilanti Township has been fighting the proposed data center for over a year due to its connection to America’s nuclear weapons industry, making it unpopular among residents.
Originally published at 404media.co. Curated by AI Maestro.
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