DETROIT — Republican Mike Rogers, running for Michigan's open Senate seat, called for a one-year moratorium on data center construction in the state Thursday, abandoning his previous support for the industry.
Rogers said the pause would allow Michigan to establish "a fair, transparent approval process" that protects local control, prevents utility rate hikes, safeguards water resources and eliminates what he called "pay-to-play schemes." He specified his proposal applies to state-level action, not a national ban.
The reversal marks a sharp turn. In a July interview with ABC affiliate WXYZ, Rogers said communities should have autonomy to permit data center construction alongside electric grid and environmental regulations. His current stance now separates him from most Republicans and many Democrats.
Rogers is competing against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters. El-Sayed has called for strict new standards on data centers affecting the electric grid, water and local communities, but has not endorsed a broad moratorium.
Data centers have become a flash point in Senate races nationwide as voters cite concerns over electricity costs and local impacts. The Data Center Coalition has countered that facilities alone are not responsible for higher utility rates.
In Ohio, the issue is defining the race between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who has accused Husted of ties to data center interests. This week, the National Republican Senatorial Committee issued a memo to the technology sector warning that data centers are "proving politically toxic" in midterm races, specifically citing the Husted-Brown contest.
On Capitol Hill, House lawmakers are advancing H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act, which aims to limit data center effects on consumers. Husted is sponsoring the Senate companion bill, S. 5028.
