The Indicator from Planet Money No AI data centers in my backyard!
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Oct 22, 2025 
Dustin Dwyer, a reporter from Michigan Public, dives into the heated debates surrounding AI data centers in small communities. He shares insights on a contentious zoning meeting in Pavilion Township where locals voiced their fears about water use and energy demands. Dwyer discusses the minimal benefits these centers may offer, like jobs, while highlighting the strain on local resources. The podcast reveals how resident pushback is delaying substantial investments and questions whether this resistance can truly challenge the data center expansion.
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Packed Township Meeting Against Data Center
- Dustin Dwyer attended a packed Pavilion Township planning meeting about a zoning amendment to allow data centers.
- Local residents turned out en masse and voiced united opposition to the proposal.
Water Worries Drive Opposition
- Elizabeth Clark asked people to raise their hands if they lived within 10 miles and said her main concern was water.
- Residents worried data centers might use community drinking water for cooling systems.
Buildout Spreading Into New Regions
- AI demand is pushing data center proposals into new regions like Michigan despite existing hotspots in Virginia and Texas.
- Local cost, land, and resource impacts are making once-willing communities push back against buildouts.