Town Hall GR at the Ford: Data Centers

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

Data centers are reshaping communities across Michigan and the nation—but what do we really know about their opportunities, challenges, costs, and impacts?

Join the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Citizens Research Council of Michigan for the inaugural Town Hall GR at the Ford, a community conversation examining the many dimensions of data-center development. Rather than a traditional debate, this program will bring together experts with different perspectives and areas of expertise for a thoughtful, fact-based conversation.

Moderated by Professor Sarah Mills of the University of Michigan, the discussion will feature Professor Michael Webber of the University of Texas at Austin, an expert in energy policy and energy systems; Eric Paul Dennis, PE, of the Citizens Research Council, whose work examines data-center development and its implications for Michigan communities; and Professor Jason Peters of Hillsdale College, whose scholarship includes agrarian thought and the work of Wendell Berry.

Together, the panelists will explore questions surrounding data centers, including energy and water use, economic development, land use, infrastructure, community impacts, and the broader technological changes driving their growth. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage with the panel.

The conversation reflects a principle associated with President Gerald R. Ford: “We can disagree without being disagreeable.” The goal is to encourage informed, engaged citizens and create space for meaningful discussion about an issue increasingly affecting communities across Michigan.

Free Brown Bag Lunch: 11:30 a.m. (Registration required)