Van Buren Township approves Google's $2B data center despite resident protests
Van Buren Township officials approved the final site plan for a 282-acre Google data center campus, known as Project Cannoli, on October 14, 2026. The 5-1 vote cleared the path for construction of a 1-gigawatt facility expected to begin drawing power by late 2027. While developers cite job creation and tax revenue, residents protested noise, dust, and water usage. The approval occurs as Michigan communities debate stricter regulations and moratoriums on similar projects.