Tech industry leaders and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gathered Monday in Saline Township to break ground on a $16 billion data center project that has divided the community.
The gathering was at the site of The Barn, a 2.2-million-square-foot hyperscale data center under construction off West Michigan Avenue, south of Ann Arbor. This is one of five “must-read” stories from MLive to start your day.
Tech leaders praise Saline Township data center project
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Oracle CEO Clay Magouyrk joined Whitmer and other executives at the site of the project, which officials promoted as a model for artificial intelligence infrastructure development in the U.S.
“This is a huge bet, and this is something that is not an easy project,” Altman said at the event, outlining ambitious possibilities for the facility, suggesting it “could very well turn into the site where cancer is cured” or where “hundreds of millions of students around the world learn and would get tutoring.”
The project promises to create about 2,500 construction jobs for union skilled workers and will generate tax revenue for the township. Officials also announced a $10 million investment in the Saline Recreation Center.
Read more from Jennifer Eberbach’s story here.
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An aerial image of Mackinac Island, Mich. on Thursday, April 30, 2026. The popular Michigan island opens for tourism on May 1. Joel Bissell | MLive.com
Ferry dispute deepens despite push for mediation
A month after a federal judge urged Mackinac Island and ferry companies to settle their legal battle, the case has descended into a procedural fight over where depositions should take place and whether sanctions are warranted.
U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jonker in April urged the city and ferry lines to cool their “litigation engines” and make progress on a settlement enabling lasting access to the island. Instead, the legal war over ferry rate control, parking fees and island access has intensified.
Mark Magyar, an attorney for the Hoffmann-owned ferry companies, represents Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry and Arnold Transit Company, which are asking a judge to reject Mackinac Island’s attempt to relocate depositions of Mayor Margaret Doud and city council members Steven Moskwa, Jason St. Onge and Anneke Myers.
The ferry companies, part of Florida billionaire David Hoffman’s corporate family, are asking a judge to sanction the city. They accuse it of repeatedly trying to delay depositions by filing last-minute motions and then acting as if that automatically pauses proceedings.
The city says the ferry lines are unreasonably forcing part-time elected officials who also run businesses to travel during the busy tourism season for half-day depositions.
See the rest of Garret Ellison’s story here.
A rendering of a Generation 4 QuikTrip store like the one that will sit at 3810 E. Cork St., in Kalamazoo, Michigan, just north of I-94 and the Sprinkle Road roundabouts. City of Kalamazoo
Convenience store chain closes on property spot for first Michigan location
QuikTrip has finalized the purchase of a property in Kalamazoo, marking a significant step in the Oklahoma-based convenience store chain’s entry into Michigan.
The company, which runs a national chain of convenience stores, closed on the site at 3810 E. Cork St., located just north of I-94 at the Sprinkle Road roundabout, according to Chad VanDerwall of Kalamazoo Commercial Real Estate, who confirmed the deal Friday.
The property sits at the southwest corner of Cork Street and Sprinkle Road and last housed The Crew restaurant. That establishment closed in October 2023 and moved to its current Portage Road location. Before The Crew, the site operated as a Perkins Family Restaurant.
QuikTrip plans to demolish the existing restaurant building and construct a 6,445-square-foot convenience store with 16 fuel pumps.
Read the rest of the story here from Ryan Boldrey.
Electric meters on the exterior of a home in Ann Arbor served by DTE Energy on Nov. 15, 2024. Customers of DTE and fellow utility Consumers Energy pay higher rates during periods of peak demand over the summer. They go into effect June 1.Lucas Smolcic Larson | MLive.com
Summer peak electric rates take effect for millions of Michigan residents
Millions of Michigan electricity customers are starting to pay higher rates during weekday afternoons and early evenings as summer peak pricing takes effect for the state’s two largest utilities.
DTE Energy and Consumers Energy implemented the seasonal rates June 1, which will remain in place through Sept. 30. The pricing structure charges more during hours when air conditioning use drives up demand on the power grid.
The two utilities collectively serve about 4.2 million customers, or more than 80% of Michigan residents.
Consumers Energy charges 24.5 cents per kilowatt-hour between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays during the summer months. Off-peak rates during other hours and on weekends are 19.7 cents per kilowatt-hour. The utility first introduced peak summer rates in 2021.
DTE’s standard rate increases from 18.44 cents per kilowatt-hour to 24.13 cents per kilowatt-hour between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on summer weekdays. The utility has used time-of-day rates year-round since 2023 and offers several plans with different peak hours.
Read the rest of the story here from Lucas Smolcic Larson.
MillerKnoll was formed in 2021 after Herman Miller purchased Pennsylvania-based furniture manufacturer Knoll Inc. for $1.8 billion.Photo courtesy MillerKnoll
West Michigan CEO behind ‘pity city’ comments to retire
The president and CEO of one West Michigan furniture maker who faced scrutiny in 2023 over controversial comments is on her way out.
Andi Owen will retire as president and CEO of MillerKnoll on June 30, the Zeeland-based company announced Monday. Owen resigned from the company’s board of directors and began a leave of absence on June 1.
Jeff Stutz, the company’s chief operating officer, will perform CEO duties during her leave and become interim CEO when Owen officially retires. The MillerKnoll board will conduct a search for a permanent CEO that includes both internal and external candidates.
Owen has led the company since 2018, when she became president of Herman Miller before it acquired Pennsylvania-based furniture manufacturer Knoll Inc. for $1.8 billion in 2021 to form MillerKnoll. She landed in hot water three years ago when video footage surfaced from a company meeting in which she told employees concerned about bonuses to “leave pity city.”
Owen apologized after the video drew widespread media attention.
Rad the rest of Ehren Wynder’s story here.
