Massive Howell Township data center plan on hold after planning commission vote

A proposed data center in Howell Township, backed by Meta, has been put on hold following a planning commission vote against it. The center was intended to transform over 1,000 acres of farmland into an AI and cloud computing facility, raising concerns among residents about its impact on water resources, electricity costs, and the environment. Despite support from Van Gilder Farms, which owns part of the site, the future of the project remains uncertain as electricity costs rise nationwide.