Related Digital Saline Township (Stargate / Oracle, 1.4 GW)

Rumored

Announced

Proposed

Permit filed

Approved

Under construction

Operational

2026-05-06

press_coverageFortune (Sharon Goldman, AI Reporter) published the definitive write-up of the lawsuit-to-settlement-to-construction sequence: "A Michigan farm town voted down plans for a giant OpenAI-Oracle data center. Weeks later, construction began." The piece foregrounds Governor Whitmer office active recruitment of OpenAI and the developer use of MI exclusionary-zoning doctrine to overcome the 4-1 township denial.SOURCE ↗

2026-04-01

financing_securedRelated Digital secured project financing for the Stargate Saline campus.SOURCE ↗

2025-11-01

groundbreakingConstruction began on the 21 million square foot, 1,000-acre Related Digital campus in Saline Township, Washtenaw County. Project value: 16 billion dollars. Tenants: OpenAI and Oracle (Stargate initiative).SOURCE ↗

2025-10-01

settlement_with_community_benefitsSettlement reached: approximately 14 million dollars in community benefits, including roughly 4 million dollars for farmland preservation plus funding for local projects and fire departments. The settlement reversed the township board denial and unblocked the project.SOURCE ↗

2025-09-15

township_board_denialSaline Township Board voted 4-1 to deny the Related Digital data center proposal. Township clerk Kelly Marion was the only member voting in favor. Resident concerns: 575 acres of prime farmland conversion, traffic, water, scale of build-out.SOURCE ↗

2025-09-12

developer_lawsuit_filedRelated Digital sued Saline Township under Michigan exclusionary-zoning doctrine within days of the board denial. Township clerk Kelly Marion: "Everything was drafted and filed with the county within two days of the meeting" -- suggesting the lawsuit was pre-prepared. Township attorney Fred Lucas: "Between a rock and a hard place."SOURCE ↗

2025-09-01

planning_commission_rejectionSaline Township Planning Commission rejected Related Digital plans for the 1.4 GW data center campus following resident opposition.SOURCE ↗

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SUPPORT · 2025-10

“This is the largest business investment in Michigan's history — creating 2,500+ union construction jobs and 450+ permanent positions.”

— Gretchen Whitmer, Gov. · MISOURCE ↗

SUPPORT · 2026-04-02

“After so much research by me and my team, I truly believe in this small-scale data center plan for Lansing and the benefits it will bring for our residents. I hope you will join me in supporting this sensible, responsible project.”

— Andy Schor, Mayor · MISOURCE ↗

NEUTRAL · 2026-02

“Companies could avoid commitments and weaker US environmental standards versus Europe could enable a race to the bottom.”

— Ryan Kost, Council Member · MISOURCE ↗

NEUTRAL · 2026-03

“Data centers must bear the responsibility of additional costs they rack up instead of offsetting them to consumers. We need mandated proper disclosures around planned data centers.”

— Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State · MISOURCE ↗

Top 5 · combined budget

$140.10M

Largest crypto/tech Super PAC. FEC filings: $134M raised in 2025-2026 cycle, $26.9M disbursed, $171.4M cash on hand (as of Feb 28, 2026). $74M in new contributions since July 2025 from Coinbase ($25M), Ripple ($25M), a16z ($24M). Spent $9.9M against Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in IL Senate primary (she won). Also spent $3M on FL/VA special elections. Affiliates: Defend American Jobs (GOP) and Protect Progress (Dem). Spent $53M for GOP vs $33.4M for Dem candidates in competitive races. Note: some reports cite $193M war chest which includes prior-cycle carryover; FEC 2025-2026 receipts total $134M.

Affiliate of Leading the Future super PAC network. $5M cash on hand.

Fairshake-affiliated Super PAC supporting Democratic crypto/tech-friendly candidates. $1M+ in independent expenditures. Cash on hand: $1.1M.

Fairshake-affiliated Super PAC supporting Republican crypto/tech-friendly candidates.

501(c)(4) nonprofit linked to Leading the Future. Not required to disclose donors.