Data center recall effort approved in Van Buren Twp.

Fox - 2 Detroit
21 followers
Nov 11, 2026
Controversy surrounding data centers
is heating up in Van Buren Township tonight.
Some residents are so angry right now,
they want to kick officials out of the township board.
Fox 2's Lauren Edwards joins us live in Van Buren Township
with the latest, and I guess things got a little heated tonight.
Oh, absolutely, Ruth.
We've been out here for a number of hours talking to several people,
and many people are just saying that they don't want
these data centers here. They're so concerned
that they want to sign a petition that's
been circulating around town. Others tell us they
hope to sign that petition,
but let's get into all the details and what you need to know. Now,
that petition started by a group called Recall Them All,
VVT, is aimed at removing the entire
Van Buren Township Board from the supervisor
to the treasurer to the trustees. Why? Because the
that the board supported an almost 300-acre data center project.
Currently, the group is collecting signatures in Van Buren Township,
and they need 3,404 to get it on the ballot next year.
News of the petition is spreading,
and Fox 2 heard from a few people about how they're feeling about it,
and here's what they had to say.
We don't want the data centers here.
We're like, absolutely not. What for? Why?
I'm not using AI.
Basically, something like this needs to happen.
I mean it needs to happen all over the country,
there's just so much corruption going on.
These politicians think they can get away with whatever they want.
It's not about them, it's about the people.
So they need to start including us, the people.
I am 100% against them because they're destroying our planet
and they're going to annoy everybody
with their annoying sounds and all of the...
Bull crap that goes with it,
but not to mention the land that's destroying.
All the water is going to be gone.
We're going to kill this planet
a thousand times faster than we're already doing it.
The animals will have nowhere to go.
It's horrific. Nobody cares.
I hope so. I really hope so.
Because this is something that needs
to be thought about a little bit more
from the citizens and everybody who lives in this area.
And so much emotion, so many people feeling
so many things about these data centers and about the board here.
Now, we also reached out to the board
and to their attorney wanting to get their perspective on everything.
As soon as we hear back, we will be giving you their their words
and their update on all of this.
But coming up on the edge, can a recall.
Actually happen. I feel like I've covered these stories in the past
and sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.
We'll get into that all on the edge for now.
Reporting live here in Van Buren Township, Lauren Edwards, Fox 2 News.
Yeah, Lauren, with the Senate, you know,
candidates all battling it out about data centers,
the gubernatorial candidates talking about data centers.
It's no wonder that local municipalities should know the import that
people have when it comes to where they stand on these data centers.
It is of consequence and it could cost people their jobs.
Absolutely, Rup. I was just here, what, 24 hours ago.
Not here, but in Romulus, covering the data centers there.
They imposed a six-month moratorium just
so they could learn more about it and hear more from the residents.
So it's very interesting to see how this is going
to play out here in Van Buren Township.
All right. Our Lauren Edwards for us live tonight. Lauren, thank you.
