Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
Holt data center proposal withdrawn after community pushback

Holt data center proposal withdrawn after community pushback

Built World Holt, MI local

Lighthouse Sustainability told the Lansing Economic Area Partnership on Nov. 9 it was pulling out of the $10 billion, 423-acre project.

Yesterday: Township keeps data center moratorium as chamber criticizes withdrawal

Overview

Updated 4 hours ago

Lighthouse Sustainability told the Lansing Economic Area Partnership on Nov. 9 that it was pulling out of a planned $10 billion data center on 423 acres near Holt, 13 days after the two organizations announced it. The company said it will look for other opportunities around the country.

Delhi Charter Township's year-long moratorium stays in place until at least April, and township officials say they want the state to set rules for data centers first. The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce called the lost project bad for business.

Why it matters

Even a developer that announced early and offered community money could not win over Holt, and townships are now waiting on state rules.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

423
Acres in proposed site
Size of the site near Holt that LEAP prepared for industrial redevelopment.
1 GW
Proposed power capacity
Maximum power capacity proposed for the data center.
$10B
Targeted project cost
Project cost announced by backers before the withdrawal.
100
Permanent jobs projected
Permanent jobs project backers said the facility would create.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

Bob Trezise
Bob Trezise
President and CEO, Lansing Economic Area Partnership
Said LEAP was disappointed a public dialogue was not truly allowed to begin and will look for non-data center uses for the site
TM
Tracy Miller
Manager, Delhi Charter Township
Said the township was pleased by the withdrawal and will not be rushed into data center rules; moratorium runs until at least April
GD
Gary Dorris
Co-founder and CEO, Lighthouse Sustainability
Withdrew Lighthouse Sustainability's interest in the Holt site on Nov. 9, 2026
TD
Tim Daman
President and CEO, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Criticized the withdrawal and the township's moratorium

Organizations Involved

Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)
Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)
Regional economic development organization
Said on Nov. 9 that Lighthouse Sustainability withdrew from the Holt project and that it will pursue non-data center opportunities for the site

The Lansing-area economic development group that prepared the 423-acre site and pitched a data center there.
Delhi Charter Township
Delhi Charter Township
Local government (charter township)
Kept its data center moratorium until at least April and passed a resolution opposing the project on Oct. 30

The township where the 423-acre Holt site is located and where any rezoning would be decided.
Lighthouse Sustainability
Lighthouse Sustainability
Private development company
Withdrew from the Holt project on Nov. 9, 2026 and said it will seek other opportunities around the country

A fairly new company that aims to ready properties for sustainable data center developments.
LR
Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
Business association
Supported the Holt data center and criticized its withdrawal

The regional business group that backed the Holt data center proposal and criticized the township's moratorium.

Timeline

2024 November 2026

8 events Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Township keeps data center moratorium as chamber criticizes withdrawal

    Latest Government

    Township Manager Tracy Miller said Delhi was pleased by the withdrawal and will keep its data center moratorium until at least April while it waits for state rules. The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce said the loss of the project was bad for business.

  2. Holt data center project withdrawn

    Withdrawal

    Lighthouse Sustainability told LEAP on Nov. 9 it was withdrawing from the Holt project and would seek other opportunities around the country. Delhi Township, which has a year-long data center moratorium, was already opposed.

  3. Residents oppose data centers at state utility meeting

    Public comment

    About 18 residents, including people from Holt and Mason, told the Michigan Public Service Commission they opposed the data centers and the high-voltage lines expected to serve them. No one spoke in favor.

  4. Delhi Township board passes resolution opposing the project

    Government

    The Delhi Charter Township Board unanimously passed a resolution opposing the data center, three days after it was announced.

  5. LEAP names Lighthouse Sustainability as Holt data center partner

    Announcement

    LEAP and Lighthouse announced plans for a $10 billion, 423-acre data center park at the Holt Economic Opportunity Park. LEAP estimated $50 million a year in new taxes and a community fund of $20 million to $30 million.

  6. LEAP announces community process for Holt data center

    Announcement

    LEAP said public meetings would decide whether it advanced a possible data center near Holt.

  7. Delhi Township imposes data center moratorium

    Regulation

    The township adopted a 12-month pause on data center projects that expires in April.

  8. LEAP begins preparing Holt site

    Site preparation

    LEAP started preparing the 423-acre site for industrial redevelopment and won a $6.5 million state grant.

Scenarios

1

Site stays industrial but not a data center

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Local economic development observers

After the withdrawal, LEAP or the landowner could market the 423-acre site for other industrial uses. The township's data center moratorium would not block those uses, but no new project has been announced.

2

Revised smaller data center returns after moratorium

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Project backers and local officials

Backers could return with a smaller project and revised community benefits after the township's moratorium expires. That would require Delhi Township officials to consider a new rezoning request.

3

Another developer buys or options Holt site

Uncertain Resolves by Q2 2028

Discussed by: Local real estate and economic development observers

A different data center developer could buy or option the site and try a new community-engagement strategy. No such buyer has been identified in the WLNS report.

4

Michigan sets data center rules before April

Uncertain Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: Delhi Charter Township Manager Tracy Miller

Miller said the township must know what guardrails the state sets before it writes local rules, and that she hopes the Legislature acts quickly. If a state framework lands before the moratorium ends, the township could adopt its own ordinance sooner.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

First quarter 2026

National data center opposition wave (2026)

Local opposition and other challenges blocked or delayed roughly $130 billion worth of data center projects across the United States in the first quarter of 2026, according to Bridge Michigan.

Then

Developers faced longer timelines and more public hearings.

Now

Some project backers began announcing plans earlier and seeking community input before filing land-use applications.

Why this matters now

Holt backers tried a public process before filing applications, but the project was still withdrawn after local pushback.

2025-2026

Michigan data center secrecy backlash (2025-2026)

Across Michigan, data center developers often kept plans secret until they were ready to submit land-use applications, prompting residents to say they were blindsided by the scope and speed of projects.

Then

Some townships imposed moratoriums, including Delhi Township's 12-month pause in 2026.

Now

Project backers began testing early public engagement as a way to reduce opposition.

Why this matters now

The Holt proposal was an early test of that approach, and the withdrawal shows early engagement did not guarantee support.

Sources

(7)
+1
WLNS 6 News CBS Detroit WILX News 10 Rhinoceros Media Hyperlocal Loop Data Center Debate WILX News 10