Related Digital secures $16 billion for Oracle AI data center in rural Michigan
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Apr 25
Related Digital secures $16 billion for Oracle AI data center in rural Michigan
12 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Apr 25
The Saline Township campus, 50 miles from Detroit, will span 250 acres and exceed one gigawatt in capacity, making it one of the largest US data centers.
Backed by Blackstone and PIMCO, the project is part of the $500 billion Stargate initiative led by Oracle, OpenAI, and SoftBank to expand US AI infrastructure.
Despite promises of job creation and a closed-loop cooling system, local residents remain concerned about grid strain, pollution, and quality of life impacts as rural areas attract more large-scale data centers.
With the US power grid already strained, can it handle the massive AI data boom?
As data centers consume farmland, are rural towns trading their heritage for temporary jobs?
How will the proposed GRID Act change the financial landscape for building new data centers?
Can local zoning laws stand up against federally prioritized AI infrastructure projects?
Beyond tax revenue, what tangible long-term benefits can towns negotiate from the AI goldrush?
Will tech's new pledge to pay for power stop rural America's utility bills from soaring?
Oracle Secures $16 Billion Financing for Michigan’s 1-Gigawatt Stargate AI Data Center Campus
Overview
In April 2026, Oracle, OpenAI, and Related Digital secured $16 billion in financing, combining $2 billion equity and $14 billion debt, enabling the development of the Stargate AI data center in Michigan. This hyperscale campus, delivering over one gigawatt of computing power, is part of OpenAI's national initiative and will create thousands of construction and permanent jobs while generating millions in local tax revenue. Oracle’s energy strategy relies on 100% grid power from DTE Energy, supported by a new battery storage facility that enhances grid stability and saves customers $300 million. The project balances rapid AI growth with sustainability through water-saving cooling and land preservation, setting a new model for tech investment and community partnership.