[ [link removed] ]Abdul for US Senate [ [link removed] ]Abdul for US Senate
Hi John,
You may be hearing a lot about data centers lately — how they might affect
your energy bills, our environment, and what that means for our health and
jobs.
Already, too many politicians are dragging their feet when it comes to
clearly addressing these issues. Meanwhile, corporations are moving fast
and locking in deals before communities have a real say.
Data centers hold the promise of good jobs for workers. But the way
they’re being rolled out offers no guarantees — and risks raising our
utility rates, destroying our environment, and harming our safety. That’s
unacceptable, and it’s why I’m stepping up now.
Today, I’m releasing Terms of Engagement for Data Centers to demand
transparency, accountability, and safety as these projects pop up across
the country.
Before I explain more, I want to ask you to stand with me. [ [link removed] ]Will you
sign on in support of my Terms of Engagement for Data Centers?
[ [link removed] ]Add Your Name ››
John, over
the last year alone, more than 15 massive data center projects have been
proposed across Michigan. One of them would consume more electricity than
the entire city of Detroit.
We need guardrails to protect our communities from any negative effects,
especially knowing that companies like DTE and Consumer’s Energy — who
have a long history of raising rates without improving reliability — are
lobbying our state legislature to greenlight these projects on their
terms, not ours.
That’s the problem. And below are my proposed terms of engagement, the
bare minimum requirements I believe data centers must meet:
Terms of Engagement for Data Centers
* No rate hikes — Data centers must pay for their own massive energy
demand. Their costs cannot be passed on to ratepayers.
* Community transparency — Michiganders must have a meaningful say in
whether projects are approved and what benefits they receive in
return.
* Energy reliability guarantees — Our power grid cannot become less
reliable because of data centers. All projects must include
enforceable commitments to improve reliability, funded by data center
revenues.
* Jobs guarantee — Data centers must create the local jobs they promise,
or face penalties.
* Strong water protections — Data centers must use closed-loop cooling
systems so they don’t drain, stress, or pollute local water resources.
* Community benefits agreements — Projects must include binding
agreements that deliver benefits like grid upgrades, buried power
lines, and investments in water and wastewater infrastructure.
* No clean-energy loopholes — Utilities cannot use data center projects
as an excuse to weaken or sidestep clean energy laws.
* Enforceability — These terms only matter if they have teeth. Every
agreement must be enforceable, with real penalties for violations.
I’ll be honest, the utility corporations are going to fight back on this
hard. These protections threaten their profit margins, and they’re used to
getting their way by pouring money into politics.
That’s exactly why independence matters in this fight. I’m proud to be the
only candidate in this race who has never taken a dime from utility
corporations, and I never will. I won’t stop until these terms are set in
stone to protect Michiganders, but I can’t do this alone.
By signing on in support of these terms, you help show that people
are paying
attention, organized, and demanding accountability before these projects
reshape our communities.
[ [link removed] ]John, add
your name to support my Terms of Engagement for Data Centers. Together, we
can make sure Michigan isn’t steamrolled by powerful corporations — and
that when we build, we do it in a way that actually works for all of us.
In solidarity,
Abdul
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