Story perspectives

Amy Kremer Leads 120 Data Center Protests, NY Freezes Projects

7/17/2026

Summary

Humans First Protests

Humans First, led by former Tea Party leader Amy Kremer, will hold 120 protests on July 18, 2026, citing bills and bailouts.
Texas will host 18 sites, Florida 12, and California and Georgia eight each.
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) froze hyperscale data centers statewide to protect the grid.
$130 billion in data-center projects stalled or cancelled in 2026.
A Gallup poll cited by Fortune found over 70 percent of Americans oppose nearby data centers.

Summary

Whitmer Supports AI

Saline Township board voted 4-1 to deny rezoning for the Stargate data center, prompting a lawsuit.
An October consent judgment let construction proceed and provided $14 million for farmland preservation, fire-service funding, and water-use limits.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attended the June 1 groundbreaking, signaling state endorsement.
The White House is drafting a voluntary pledge with utilities and data-center firms to shield taxpayers from AI costs.

Summary

Whitmer Pushes Safeguards

Governor Gretchen Whitmer urged hyperscale data-center operators to adopt safeguards for nearby residents.
Dowagiac residents filed a lawsuit saying the center’s noise violates state nuisance statutes.
The operator offered a buyout to aggrieved homeowners near the facility.
Google’s “Project Cannoli” will be built in Van Buren Township while Hyperscale Data Inc. converts its Dowagiac site to AI and cloud-computing since 2021, using 5 million gallons of water daily.

History

Historical Context

Google’s $2 billion Oklahoma data-center plan in 2010 triggered statewide protests, leading Energy Commissioner Jim Reese to cap water use at 3 million gallons per day—a 40 % cut. The backlash foreshadowed later opposition, such as Amy Kremer’s 2024 nationwide rallies and Michigan lawsuits, while Google’s 2023 Ohio data-center expansion shows the tension between growth and community-driven safeguards.

1 of 4

Humans First Protests

Humans First, led by former Tea Party leader Amy Kremer, will hold 120 protests on July 18, 2026, citing bills and bailouts.
Texas will host 18 sites, Florida 12, and California and Georgia eight each.
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) froze hyperscale data centers statewide to protect the grid.
$130 billion in data-center projects stalled or cancelled in 2026.
A Gallup poll cited by Fortune found over 70 percent of Americans oppose nearby data centers.

1 / 4