Are data centres a threat to the Great Lakes?
Ontario could learn a lot from Michigan about the coming data centre boom, and how it could impact our freshwater resources. But much is still unknown.
Benton Harbor on Lake Michigan’s southeast coast is known to visitors for its vacation feel and beautiful beaches.
But it’s also one of the poorest cities in Michigan. In recent years, the area has struggled to find the funds to invest in critical infrastructure, most noticeably for its water supply which until recently had tested for dangerously high levels of lead.
So while facing a US$2.5-million annual deficit in operating its water provider system, the city has turned to deep-pocketed multinationals to help bring about change.
Last year, reports emerged that an unnamed company was seeking to build a US$3-billion data centre on 280 acres of land east of the city.
Not everyone backs the move.
