We, the residents and supporters of the Huron River Watershed and Washtenaw County, are calling for the immediate reconsideration and relocation of a proposed high-impact development currently planned in our area.

The University of Michigan, in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory, is proposing a $1.25 billion high-performance computing facility on approximately 144 acres along the Huron River in Ypsilanti Township.

While described publicly as a data center, officials from Los Alamos have confirmed that the facility would support classified national security work, including nuclear weapons research and simulation tied to the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

This distinction matters.

Facilities that support nuclear weapons research, whether physical production or computational simulation, carry heightened national security considerations, infrastructure demands, and long-term community impacts that extend beyond a typical commercial or academic project.

 
🚨 This Is Not a Small Project
This involves:

Advanced computing infrastructure
Classified federal research
Significant energy and water demands
Long-term environmental and community implications
Ypsilanti is a growing, diverse, family-centered community.
It is not the appropriate location for a project of this magnitude and risk.

 
❓ We Are Asking a Simple Question:
👉 Why here?

There are alternative locations already suited for large-scale, high-impact development—including previously developed industrial sites such as former manufacturing properties.

 
🚨 Community Concerns
1. Lack of Transparent Local Engagement
Residents report that the scope and implications of this project were not clearly communicated before land acquisition. Nearby residents, including those at Lake Pointe Apartments, were notified only after key decisions had already been made.

 
2. Proximity to Homes, Schools & Community Life
The proposed site is near existing residential neighborhoods, including affordable housing
A public elementary school is located within close proximity
This is an active, lived-in community, not an isolated industrial zone
 
3. Impact on Recreation, Athletics & the River
The site is directly connected to recreational and athletic use areas along Ford Lake and the Huron River.

Eastern Michigan University rowing teams train daily on Ford Lake
Ford Lake hosted the 2025 U.S. Rowing National Championships
Major collegiate championships are scheduled in the coming years
The University of Michigan rowing team practices downstream on the same connected water system
This is not just land—it is an active, nationally recognized recreational and athletic corridor.

 
4. Environmental & Water System Concerns
The site lies within the Huron River watershed, a critical regional resource.

The Huron River contributes significantly to local drinking water systems
Wetlands and natural buffers support filtration, flood control, and ecosystem stability
Disruption in one part of the watershed impacts the broader system
 
5. Infrastructure & Safety Questions
Ypsilanti Township is a civilian community, not a federal research zone.

There are open questions about:

Emergency preparedness
Infrastructure strain (energy, water, utilities)
Long-term oversight and accountability
Potential designation as a higher-risk national security target
 
🏛️ Local Government Has Already Spoken
The Charter Township of Ypsilanti Board of Trustees has unanimously passed a resolution opposing this type of facility anywhere in the township.

Their position is clear:
👉 This project does not align with the community’s infrastructure, safety, or long-term vision.

 
🧭 Our Position
We are not against innovation.
We are not against progress.

We are for:

Responsible placement
Transparency
Community-first decision making
👉 Right project. Wrong location.

 
📣 What We Are Asking
We respectfully call on:

1. The University of Michigan Board of Regents
To honor the township’s unanimous opposition and remove Ypsilanti Township from consideration.

2. Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan
To direct the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to pause or withhold state funding until transparency and community alignment are achieved.

3. The U.S. Department of Energy
To ensure appropriate siting, environmental review, and national security standards are fully applied.

 
⏳ Timeline
The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet on May 21, 2026
Public comment submission opens May 14, 2026

 
✍️ Call to Action
Washtenaw County residents deserve to be informed, respected, and protected—not bypassed.

If a project of this scale is to move forward, it must be done with:

Full transparency
Appropriate location consideration
And meaningful community input
👉 Sign and share to ensure your voice is heard.

Do not make Washtenaw County the easiest place to build....Make it the place you protect.