MichMash: Looking ahead at the remainder of 2025
In this episode, we discuss data centers, the Michigan gubernatorial race and what items on the legislature’s to-do list are likely to get accomplished.
Alethia Kasben, Zach Gorchow and Cheyna Roth host MichMash in November 2025
During Thanksgiving weekend, the MichMash hosts got together to look at issues and stories we should look out for in the month of December. In this episode, WDET’s Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss topics such as data centers, the Michigan gubernatorial race, and what items on the legislature’s to-do list are likely to get accomplished.
Data centers
The Michigan Public Service Commission is planning on addressing the increasing amount of data centers in the state in a public hearing this week.
Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT, is opening a data center in Saline Township. Bridge Michigan recently reported there are nine other communities where companies have proposed building these large-scale data centers.
This surge is a result of a 2024 law that expanded the exemption from the state’s 6% sales tax purchases for the equipment inside these data centers. But despite economic opportunity, there is concern among residents. Questions about environmental impact came up when the legislature passed those bills.
The hearing is set for Dec. 3.
Michigan gubernatorial race
The team also spoke about a major shift coming up in the state gubernatorial race.
Detroit Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan is going to lose a huge asset in having the mayoral megaphone to command attention once Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield takes office. That means he could be losing a lot of news coverage starting Jan. 1. On the other hand, he’ll be able to dedicate his full effort to his campaign efforts. We’ll see how that plays out.
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