Michigan communities are finding out their neighborhoods are about to host massive data centers only after the deal is already done. That's because public officials in Michigan can currently sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) — legal promises to keep quiet — about data center projects before residents ever get a say. By the time people learn what's coming, it's often too late to ask questions about water use, energy strain, or how the project will change their community.

Lawmakers in Lansing have a chance to fix this. Michigan Senate Democrats introduced a bill this year that would ban public officials from entering into NDAs tied to data center deals, alongside requirements for water-use permits and community benefits. Similar transparency measures have been proposed in the House. But months later, both packages are stuck in committee, with no vote in sight.

"Data centers have already corroded trust in our government, and have shown real flaws in transparency at the state and local level all over our state," said Chris Gilmer-Hill, policy manager for the Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, at a September 9 press conference at the Michigan Capitol.

Residents deserve to know what's being built in their backyard before the ink dries, not after. Michigan lawmakers should move these transparency bills out of committee and pass a ban on secret data center deals now.

Sign the petition to demand Michigan lawmakers end secret NDAs on data center deals — before another community is blindsided by a project it never got to weigh in on.