As corporations move aggressively to develop data centers across Michigan, West Michigan communities are facing decisions with lasting consequences for residents, natural resources, and local infrastructure.

For decades, families in Rockford, Plainfield, and Algoma Townships have lived with the fallout of the PFAS crisis. Residents lost trust in the water coming out of their taps, and these communities have spent years dealing with the environmental failures they did not create.

"The lesson here isn't complicated," said Rachel Crowther, candidate for State Representative M90. “When governments fail to ask hard questions and regulate an emerging industry before approving development, our families, kids, and grandkids will pay the price for generations."

As discussions continue about bringing data centers and AI-related infrastructure to West Michigan, Crowther says local leaders must proceed cautiously.

"Do data centers bring economic opportunity? Maybe. But they also place significant demands on water, energy, and local infrastructure," Crowther said. "This is not simply a conversation about zoning, manufacturing, or technology. It is a conversation about protecting our local ecosystems and preserving the quality of life that makes our communities special."

Crowther stressed that communities already impacted by groundwater contamination cannot afford to take a "build first, ask questions later" approach.

"I support innovation and economic growth, but I refuse to ask our neighborhoods to shoulder unknown risks while large corporations pocket the profits," she said. "Before any data center or large-scale industrial facility receives state incentives or local approval, it must prove it will not harm our communities."

Crowther is calling for three key protections:

Independent Environmental Studies: These include full reviews of impacts on local aquifers, ongoing monitoring of residential wells, and strong protections for the Rogue River, Grand River, and surrounding watersheds.

Full Disclosure of Chemicals Used: Companies must fully disclose chemicals used in cooling systems and industrial processes, provide transparent waste disposal plans, and be held financially responsible for any future contamination. If a company pollutes, it should pay for the cleanup, not taxpayers. 

Resident Engagement:  Residents deserve a meaningful voice in public hearings, complete transparency regarding water and energy demands, and guarantees that local taxpayers will not be forced to subsidize infrastructure for private developments. Local governments remain the first line of defense in protecting community interests.

Crowther also expressed support for bipartisan legislation introduced in Lansing that would temporarily pause new data center development while the state evaluates long-term impacts on communities and infrastructure. The legislation, Senate Bills 1018-1020 and House Bills 5594-5596, would establish a one-year moratorium on new data center projects, allowing policymakers and local governments time to study impacts on Michigan's electrical grid, water resources, land use, and local communities.

"We've already seen the devastating cost of delayed action and weak oversight," Crowther said. "We learned that lesson the hard way with PFAS. We shouldn't have to learn it again. These bipartisan bills provide an opportunity to slow down, ask the right questions, and ensure we are protecting residents before approving projects that could have consequences for decades."

As State Representative, Crowther — who runs her own business in Rockford and is a Courtland Twp. trustee — pledged to advocate for responsible growth that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and local control.

"I want a strong Michigan economy, affordable housing and sustainable job growth, but never at the expense of the clean water our children drink," Crowther said. "The people of Kent County deserve growth that is sustainable, transparent, and fair. Let's build a future we can actually be proud to pass down."