Massive OpenAI, Oracle Data Center Planned Near Ann Arbor

What happened

Billionaire Stephen Ross’s company Related Digital is partnering with OpenAI and Oracle to build a large data center on farmland near Ann Arbor, Michigan. The project is planned for Saline Township, just outside Ann Arbor.

Why it matters

• The data center is described as the largest economic project in Michigan’s history, expected to create thousands of jobs.
• It is part of a broader effort to keep the U.S. competitive in the global race for artificial intelligence infrastructure.
• The project has faced local opposition over zoning and environmental concerns, but a legal settlement cleared the way for its announcement.

Key facts

1. 1. The data center campus will occupy 250 acres in Saline Township, with construction set to begin in early 2026.
2. 2. The facility will have over 1 gigawatt of computing capacity, equivalent to the output of a nuclear reactor, and will feature three buildings, each 550,000 square feet.
3. 3. The project is expected to create more than 450 on-site jobs and over 2,500 union construction jobs, with additional employment county-wide.