government
Oakland University board votes to advance campus data center project to due diligence phase
By Simon Shaykhet at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News
· June 26, 2026
· 2 min read
Oakland University's board of trustees has voted to move a proposed campus data center project into a due diligence phase, as students and former students raise health and environmental concerns. Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report: Oakland University advances campus data center to due diligence ...
Key takeaway Banes Berceli, vice provost at Oakland University, said the project would deliver significant research infrastructure, but at a fraction of the scale of larger data centers roughly 2% of the size.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The Oakland University board's decision to advance the campus data center project to the due diligence phase brings attention to the delicate balance between economic development and environmental concerns in the Detroit area. As the project moves forward, the university's commitment to conducting an environmental study for the proposed site near Lot 37 will be crucial in addressing the concerns of students, former students, and potentially affected communities. The fact that the project's scale is significantly smaller than larger data centers, using only about 2% of the power of a hyperscaler, may alleviate some concerns, but the university must still provide concrete data to support its claims. The potential benefits of the project, including research infrastructure, revenue generation, and student internship opportunities, must be carefully weighed against the potential environmental impacts, such as noise pollution, water usage, and electric usage, to ensure that the project serves the best interests of the university and the surrounding community.
About this story
Original reporting by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: government ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Oakland University's board of trustees has voted to move a proposed campus data center project into a due diligence phase, as students and former students raise health and environmental concerns. Watch Simon Shaykhet's video report: Oakland University advances campus data center to due diligence ...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Simon Shaykhet at WXYZ Channel 7 (ABC Detroit) - News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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