Cherry famous is way better than data center famous

Posted on by farlane
Leelanau Tart Cherries Ready for Harvest by Andrew McFarlane

Last night on Facebook, Erin Brockovich shared:

Michigan, the state famous for its cherries, has been reaching out for months with concerns about proposed AI data centers in local communities.

I’ve heard from residents in Marshall, Saline Township, Lowell, Dowagiac, Dorr, and many other towns. People are very engaged and asking important questions. The issues being raised echo what we’ve seen nationwide: water impacts/rights, utility costs rising, 765kV transmission lines, rezoning disputes, NDAs, zero transparency, among other issues.

She adds that she appreciates everyone who has shared information through the Brockovich AI Data Center Reporting website. They are working to raise community awareness nationwide about the fast-moving wave of data centers & how communities are working to block them or shape the impact on their water and power resources and the the fabric of their communities.

And yes, she is THAT Erin Brockovich.

This photo is mine, taken July 5, 2007 on the Leelanau Peninsula and processed by me. I decided to use my own photo so people aren’t being mean to someone else on behalf of data centers. If you are thinking of being a champion for these strange & secretive facilities that somehow have to be everywhere and also guarded by robot dogs, I will remind you that data centers are impacting water health & access or that datacenters increase power prices & reduce power availability. That’s probably why 7 in 10 people Americans don’t want a datacenter in their community, and they are strongly opposed by nearly half of us.

Please consider all of that before you uncork your brainless “how come you still use computers & the internet” attack on a person who has been using the internet to share stories since you had to capitalize Internet. If you do want to ride for Artificial Intelligence, I encourage you to educate yourself about the Facts & Myths around AI datacenters.

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Michigan data centers coming at a “surreal” pace

Posted on by farlane
Data Base by Terry Johnston

Data Base by Terry Johnston

I’ve been wanting to share The Gander’s Michigan Data Center Tracker (embedded below) for a while now. It documents how despite organized opposition in several dozen communities, more than 30 AI-related projects have been slated for Michigan since 2024.

Last week mLive editor John Hiner published an engaging editorial in which he observed that datacenters are coming at a surreal pace & Michigan policy makers need to catch up fast. It says in part:

The numbers alone boggle the mind. The project, dubbed “The Barn,” sits on roughly 1,000 acres. It will include about 1.7 million square feet of enclosed space for computers – the equivalent of 11 Costco warehouses under one roof. It’s expected to require 1.4 gigawatts of electricity – enough to power 1 million homes.

Residents in Saline Township, Lyon Township, Van Buren Township and elsewhere have raised concerns about electricity demand, water use, land use and quality of life. National polling suggests roughly seven in 10 Americans do not want to live near a data center. Some opposition is rooted in the specifics of individual projects. Some reflects a broader unease about artificial intelligence itself – what it may mean for jobs, creativity and society.

(mLive MLive investigative reporter Lucas) Smolcic Larson believes those concerns deserve to be taken seriously. But he also sees something larger at work: “A sort of power and information imbalance … where you’ve got a tiny community up against Google, which is one of the largest companies in the world.”

The debate is often framed as being for data centers or against them. That’s too simplistic. They are rapidly becoming essential infrastructure for a digital economy running on cloud computing and AI. The more important question is whether Michigan has built a public conversation – and a regulatory framework – that can keep up with the speed of development, while addressing that imbalance between mega-corporations and ordinary citizens.

It’s clear after watching Gov. Whitmer stand shoulder to shoulder with Sam Altman as they cut the ribbon on the controversial Barn project as she said “We’re used to people saying ‘f— no,’ and then doing it anyway” that Michigan has not come close to creating anything approaching public dialog beyond “We don’t want to lose data centers to Ohio.”

It’s been a while since I’ve featured a photo from Terry aka powerbooktrance. I hope he’s doing well! See more in his Reflective Windows gallery on Flickr.

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Missed Connections: Gordie Howe Bridge Edition

Posted on by farlane
Connection Ceremony by Gordie Howe International Bridge

Connection Ceremony by Gordie Howe International Bridge

“Open the bridge!” – Lucas Legare

When I shared this photo two years ago of the Gordie Howe Bridge “topping out” ceremony when they connected the Canadian & US sides of the bridge, I had no idea building the bridge would be easier than opening it. I’d love to share news of when the now fully completed bridge will be opened, but since we are clearly on Manbaby Time at this point, the best I can do is this story about Lucas Legere, an actual child who has been waiting most of his life for the Gordie Howe to open.

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Michigan helped fly Artemis to the Moon

Posted on by farlane

Fly Me to the Moon by Morgan Andrew Somers

Given the state of the world these days, it’s probably not surprising that a lot of people are turning their eyes to the future and to outer space. Bridge Michigan’s Paula Gardner shares that this includes the State of Michigan that is opening a space innovation hub to seek a portion of what is projected to be a nearly $2 trillion sector:

Blades and nozzles in the four engines of the Artemis II rocket came from Moeller Aerospace in Harbor Springs, a state supplier to NASA contractors. Elmet Technologies in Lewiston Coldwater tooled more equipment. And NASA used solar particle forecasts from the University of Michigan.

All told, at least 78 Michigan-based entities contributed to the mission, said Mark Ignash, director of strategic initiatives at Michigan’s Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation.

…The Michigan Economic Development Corp. is seeking proposals to establish the state’s first Space Innovation Hub. With up to $1.2 million budgeted for the first year, the hub is an early step towards connecting and growing the space-centered business in the state. 

Editor’s Note/Unpaid Promotion: I left the links in the text from Bridge so you can get an idea of the incredible depth they bring to their reporting. At a time when many news outlets are reducing local coverage or shutting their doors, it’s great to have companies like this bringing hard hitting & well researched journalism to the issues that impact the future of all Michiganders. For sure follow them at bridgemi.com or on any social media.

I shared this stunning photo of a plane flying across the April 8, 2024 eclipse taken in Flint by Morgan Andrew Somers two years ago. It was the third most popular photo of 2024, and for my money far and away the best pic of the eclipse taken from Michigan that I’ve seen & also kind of perfect for this post. Head over to the MASphoto Facebook for more including the answer to “is this photo fake” (no, it is not). View & purchase prints at morganandrewsomers.com!

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Michigan sues Big Oil

Posted on by farlane
Mercedes Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid by Rich

Mercedes Benz C350 Plug-In Hybrid by Rich

The Guardian shares that in a first of its kind complaint, the State of Michigan has filed a complaint accusing big oil of being ‘cartel’ that fuels climate crisis and high energy costs:

…the state’s attorney general, Dana Nessel, accused four fossil fuel majors and the top US oil lobbying group last month of acting as a “cartel” to stifle the growth of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs), while suppressing information about the dangers of the climate crisis. The conduct, the lawsuit alleged, violates federal and state antitrust laws.

The companies’ “collusion” drove up Michigan utility costs and slowed the transition away from gas-powered cars, according to the filing. Absent the industry’s efforts to repress clean technology, EVs “would be a common sight in every neighborhood – rolling off assembly lines in Flint, parked in driveways in Dearborn, charging outside grocery stores in Grand Rapids, and running quietly down Woodward Avenue”, it said.

Electricity costs in Michigan have surged, with average residential rates increasing by nearly 120% in the last two decades. And though electric car adoption is increasing, EVs and hybrids accounted for less than 4% of total registered vehicles statewide last year.

Rich took this photo at the North American International Auto Show way back in 2015. It won Best Photo in their 2015 Photo Contest & you can see more below and in his Detroit 2015 NAIAS gallery on Flickr.

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Michigan hoping to unlock geologic hydrogen

Posted on by farlane
Hydrogen Bus at the Capitol by Flint MTA

Hydrogen Bus at the Capitol by Flint MTA

UpNorth Live shares that the State of Michigan is exploring the extraction of naturally occurring hydrogen beneath northern Michigan:

Geologic hydrogen, a naturally forming gas, produces water instead of carbon dioxide when used as fuel. Federal mapping has identified Michigan as one of the most promising locations in the U.S. for this resource. Researchers suggest the state’s underground geology may allow hydrogen to form and be trapped deep below the surface.

Matt Schrenk of Michigan State University said, “These rural communities, some of them are really struggling, some of them struggling to find an economic foothold and looking for new areas of development. And so I think to find ways to make use of things that already exist there could be really valuable.”

The photo is of one of the Flint Metropolitan Transit Authority‘s hydrogen buses at the state Capitol. You can read more about the Flint MTA’s pioneering alternative fuel program that includes a hydrogen refueling station in East Village Magazine.

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Get ready for the 2026 Detroit Auto Show!

Posted on by farlane
Detroit Auto Show by Montez Miller / Tell Us Detroit

Detroit Auto Show by Montez Miller / Tell Us Detroit

The annual Detroit Auto Show kicks off today at Huntington Place in Downtown Detroit. This annual celebration of automotive design & car culture runs January 14-25, 2026 & features new models, test tracks, and all kinds of auto related fun.

Montez Miller of Tell Us Detroit was there for an early look with Autot Show officials and new Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield. You can follow Tell Us Detroit’s coverage on Facebook, click to check out her video with some photo highlights of the preview, also also see highlights in the Detroit Auto Show’s hype video featuring GMac Cash. It’s really a great experience for car lovers!

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Michigan Central Railway Tunnel

Posted on by farlane
Sinking last tubular section Michigan Central RR tunnel by Albert Duce

Sinking last tubular section Michigan Central RR tunnel by Albert Duce

One of the fun things about Michigan in Pictures is the way that the photos I share raise questions that I am then obliged to find the answers to! That is the case today after someone asked “Where does the Holiday Train cross over from Canada?” The answer is the Michigan Central Railroad Tunnel which the Henry Ford explains was the answer to a wintertime challenge:

Ferrying railroad cars across the Detroit River was time-consuming and expensive — and sometimes impossible through winter ice. The Michigan Central Railroad opened a tunnel between Detroit and Windsor in 1910. The tunnel’s sections were built on land and then towed and sunk into position. This innovative construction technique saved the railroad some $2 million versus more conventional methods.

The Diesel Shop shared the photo above and continues the explanation:

The tunnel was constructed utilizing the immersed tube method in which tunnel sections are prefabricated and then sunk to the bottom of the river. Immersed tube construction is generally faster and cheaper than the alternative of boring a tunnel into the earth. The Michigan Central Railway Tunnel was the first immersed tube tunnel to carry traffic. The tunnel, built at a cost of $8,500,000, is 1 3/8 miles in length from portal to portal.

Here’s a cool video tour of the Michigan Central Railway Tunnel & some shots of the tunnel via Wikipedia’s Michigan Central Railway Tunnel entry.

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Michigan facing $16,000,000,000 fine for voting for Democrats?

Posted on by farlane
GM Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant

GM Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant by Tony Webster

The Michigan Advance shares that a $500 million grant to convert the General Motors Lansing Grand River Assembly plant to electric vehicle production is being considered for cancellation by President Trump. The grant is one of over $16 billion in already awarded federal grants that could be clawed back, apparently because Michigan voted for Democrats, which honestly sounds insane:

The document, circulated on Capitol Hill, was first reported by The Detroit News (link) and reportedly includes more than $800 million in Michigan projects. Other Michigan-based recipients on the list include Ford Motor Company and Dow Chemical Company. (and Stellantis)

The proposed cancellations come after Trump administration officials last week defended the decision to cancel federal projects in regions of the country that have voted for Democrats, insisting it was in an effort to reduce the size and scope of government during the ongoing shutdown of the federal government. Democrats, however, said the cancellations further eroded Congress’ constitutional authority over spending by unilaterally canceling funding that lawmakers approved on a bipartisan basis.

The lawmakers definitely have a point. How can we expect companies to invest in industries of the future if we as a nation can’t honor our commitments?

The photo is from the Wikipedia for the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant which opened in 2001 and replaced the Lansing Car Assembly, Lansing Metal Center, and the Lansing Craft Center.

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Happy National Jiffy Mix Day!

Posted on by farlane

Jiffy Mix – Your Cornbread Comes From Right Here by Steve Brown

October 1st is the first ever National Jiffy Mix Day, a celebration of the family-owned Chelsea Milling Company that got its start in 1901 and launched the iconic Jiffy thanks to the vision of Mabel White Holmes:

When a friend of her twin sons Howard and Dudley visited their home, Mabel noticed the biscuits in the boy’s lunch were flat and unappetizing. She set out to find a way to create a pre-made mix which would assist the boy’s single father in the kitchen.

In 1930, with the support of her husband Howard Samuel Holmes, Mabel’s home-grown project became the first prepared baking mix sold to the public. The convenient, simple to use mix only required the addition of milk to produce perfect biscuits every time. By keeping their “JIFFY” brand baking mixes affordable, the Holmes’ new venture was able to help many families who were recovering from the effects of the Great Depression.

Read lots more from Jiffy & cheers to everyone who looks at a child’s lunch with an eye towards making it better!! There’s a poster from the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce below with info about the festivities on tap today that include games & prizes, a treasure hunt, food trucks & a visit from Detroit Lions Mascot Roary.

Steve passed on a couple years ago, but his photos and his love of history remain (click for his Michigan in Pictures features). Here are a few more pics of Chelsea – see more great shots from Chelsea in his Chelsea Michigan gallery on Flickr!

Mabel White Holmes inventor of Jiffy All Purpose Baking Mix
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