# The $16 billion data center for OpenAI and Oracle’s Stargate AI infrastructure initiative was flat-out rejected by both the town's board and its planning commission in September.

*genai · news · 2026-05-06 · Fortune*

## Key points

- The $16 billion OpenAI-Oracle Stargate data center proceeded despite being rejected by local government.
- Saline Township settled a lawsuit alleging exclusionary zoning, enabling construction and securing $14 million in community benefits.
- The data center will draw 1.4 gigawatts from DTE Energy, equal to a nuclear plant's output.
- Settlement allowed the project without formal rezoning, sidestepping a possible public referendum under Michigan law.
- Michigan officials actively courted OpenAI, with Governor Whitmer meeting Altman before Saline was chosen.

**Companies:** OpenAI, Oracle, Related Digital, DTE Energy
**Countries:** United States

[Read the full story on Fortune](https://fortune.com/2026/05/06/ai-data-center-michigan-saline-politics-farmland/)

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