infrastructure

Michigan Senate Democrats released their proposal for new data center regulations Thursday. Colin Jackson has more.

New Michigan House bills would cap profits for public utilities, stop them from using ratepayer revenue to cover executives’ pay and require infrastructure re-evaluation every five years. Colin Jackson has more.

The City of Ann Arbor has announced its plans to reconfigure the intersection at Pontiac Trail and Dhu Varren Road. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

The Ann Arbor School District will be asking voters in August to renew its sinking fund millage. Officials say without it, several future construction projects may not happen. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Gallup Park in Ann Arbor is undergoing a couple of construction projects to improve safety for visitors. WEMU’s Ana Longoria reports.

The Ypsilanti City Council will get a look at the next proposed budget this evening. It includes dipping into the General Fund for some needed infrastructure improvements. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The City of Ann Arbor and the Downtown Development Authority are developing a program to improve conditions in the downtown area. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

A couple of parking lots and alleyways in Ypsilanti are being resurfaced by city workers to make them safer for residents and visitors. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

Large-scale data centers are increasing in number. They can use a lot of land, water and energy. In the meantime, wind and solar farms are part of the renewable energy future. Where to put them, and how to responsibly deal with land use issues, is difficult. These decisions can have a particular impact on our rural communities and the people who live there. Are we prepared for that future? WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters CEO and President, Lisa Wozniak, wanted to know about potential benefits and consequences. They talked it over with Dr. Sarah Mills, the Director of the University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute's Center for EmPowering Communities.

Environmental concerns continue to surround data centers, and there are a number either approved or planned in Washtenaw County. Supporters of these centers contend there are ways to ensure environmental health while improving the local economy. We’ve explored environmental concerns on WEMU’s "Issues of the Environment." This time around, we’ll get a business perspective on it. Phil Santer is Chief Operating Officer for Ann Arbor SPARK, and he joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the economics of these data centers.