The Potential for Using Brownfields for Data Centers and Solar Farms
DOWNLOADJuly 22, 2026 - Bill Knudson
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EmailThere has been increased interest in expanding data centers in Michigan. This is driven primarily by
the demand for data storage generated by the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Additionally, the energy demands for the centers has the potential to drive up the demand for
electricity. Solar farms are a cost effective way to generate electricity. Data centers and solar farms
use land. Most of these projects have used farmland especially for larger projects. A potentially
underutilized source of land for data centers and solar farms is brownfields. This paper analyzes the
potential for using brownfields for data centers and solar farms as well as the policies in place that
promote data centers and solar farms. It also discusses some of the issues related to the data
center hyperscale data center in Saline Township.
