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Site History

• Aug 2024: Microsoft Corporation purchases 316 acres at 4450 76th Street SE from Steelcase Inc. for $45.3M.
• Oct 2024: Land purchase publicly reported as potential data center site.
• Nov 2024: Microsoft acquires adjacent 40.5 acres at 7147 Patterson Ave SE from Republic National Distributing Co. for $9.7M.
• Dec 2025: Microsoft files request to rezone 5 parcels (~104 acres along Patterson Ave SE & 76th St SE) from large-scale planned unit development to light industrial.
• Jan 2026: Microsoft confirmed publicly as the developer behind the project.
• Mar 3, 2026: Microsoft hosts community open house at the Kindred Event Center (3449 76th St) covering energy, water, jobs, and community benefits.
• Apr 13, 2026: Microsoft details $45M+ initial plan ahead of public hearing.
• Apr 15, 2026: Gaines Township Planning Commission votes 7-0 to table rezoning recommendation after 5.5-hour public hearing; hundreds of residents attended South Christian High School auditorium in opposition.
• 2026 (pending): Microsoft tentative contract for additional 57.8 acres at 4100 68th St SE (former Steelcase wood plant) — bringing assembled total to ~414 acres.

Project Profile

• Developer: Microsoft Corporation (direct purchase, no shell LLC identified)
• Use: AI data center campus
• Total assembled land: ~414 acres (316 + 40.5 + 57.8 pending)
• Total disclosed land investment: ~$55M ($45.3M Steelcase + $9.7M Republic National; 57.8-acre parcel price undisclosed)
• Stated initial project investment: $45M+ disclosed to township
• Status: Planned — rezoning tabled pending township board action
• Local conditions proposed: 65 dBA noise limit at residential property lines (85 dBA emergency generator use); wastewater, air quality, and infrastructure-upgrade requirements with Microsoft funding all utility upgrades.
• West Michigan cluster: One of three announced Microsoft campuses — also Lowell Township (~15 mi NE, 235 acres at 4687 Alden Nash Ave SE, Covenant Business Park) and Dorr Township (~20 mi SW, 272 acres off 144th Ave near US-131, $48M land buy 2024).

Power

• Utility: Consumers Energy (MISO Zone 7), grid-served. No behind-the-meter generation disclosed.
• Service under Rate GPD as amended in MPSC Case U-21859 (order Nov 6, 2025): 100 MW minimum service threshold, or 100 MW aggregated across commonly-owned sites of 20 MW or more; 15-year minimum term; ramp-up period up to five years; monthly billing at 80% of contract capacity; exit fee equal to the minimum monthly bill times remaining months; collateral equal to half the exit fee.
• Microsoft funds all transmission, distribution, and generation upgrades needed to serve the site, including new substation capacity.
• Consumers Energy signed a large-load agreement for up to 1,000 MW, announced July 2025. Both an extraordinary facilities agreement and a rate agreement were executed as of July 2026. Consumers has confirmed it is pursuing an AI training facility with Microsoft near Grand Rapids. The agreement is not tethered to a single site and may span Microsoft's West Michigan cluster (Gaines, Lowell, Dorr).
• Contract load begins 2028 and ramps through 2029 and 2030. Local zoning approval is the stated remaining gate.
• Consumers must file an ex parte application with the MPSC before the customer takes service. No such filing has been made.
• Neither Microsoft nor Gaines Charter Township has disclosed an MW figure. The capacity records on this site are estimates.
• On-site backup generation strategy not disclosed. Conditional rezoning caps emergency generator noise at 85 dBA.