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Microsoft plans an AI data center campus at the northwest corner of Patterson Avenue SE and 76th Street SE in Gaines Charter Township, Kent County, southeast of Grand Rapids. Microsoft assembled the site through three transactions beginning in August 2024, buying the land directly in its own name. The rezoning to light industrial is tabled, pending township board action.

Site History

• 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.
• 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.
• Apr 13, 2026: Microsoft details $45M+ initial plan ahead of public hearing.
• Mar 3, 2026: Microsoft hosts community open house at the Kindred Event Center (3449 76th St) covering energy, water, jobs, and community benefits.
• Jan 2026: Microsoft confirmed publicly as the developer behind the project.
• 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.
• Nov 2024: Microsoft acquires adjacent 40.5 acres at 7147 Patterson Ave SE from Republic National Distributing Co. for $9.7M.
• Oct 2024: Land purchase publicly reported as potential data center site.
• Aug 2024: Microsoft Corporation purchases 316 acres at 4450 76th Street SE from Steelcase Inc. for $45.3M.

Project Profile

• Use: AI data center campus
• 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
• 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

• The site is grid-served, with no behind-the-meter generation disclosed.
• Service under Rate GPD as amended by the Michigan Public Service Commission (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.
• On-site backup generation strategy not disclosed. Conditional rezoning caps emergency generator noise at 85 dBA.