Michigan Regulators Approve DTE Contracts for Google Data Center Project

Michigan regulators have approved conditional contracts for DTE Energy to power Google's 1-gigawatt data center project in Van Buren Township. The Michigan Public Service Commission voted unanimously to grant approval, with one condition that ensures special contracts for the Google facility cover generation, transmission, distribution, and other costs.

The terms of the contract require Google to pay for the development of up to 1,600 megawatts of renewable energy and 480 MW of battery energy storage by DTE Electric. The data center is expected to begin service in December 2027 and achieve maximum load by December 2028, according to DTE Electric.

Katie Duckworth, staff attorney for the Environmental Law & Policy Center, expressed concerns that the commission failed to encourage large customers like Google to develop innovative solutions that support grid reliability and advance Michigan's clean-energy objectives. Dana Nessel, Michigan Attorney General, had pushed for stronger contract terms to protect other customers from stranded assets.