The Data Center Divide
A policy snapshot ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mapping data center incentives, restrictions, and bans through legislation, regulations, and executive actions across all 50 states and 1,462 local jurisdictions.
Wayne County
Pro-Data Center Policies
Wayne County’s enacted measure offers a path to sales and use tax exemptions, with community-benefit commitments; county approval covers tax benefits, not construction approval.
Incentives
Tax benefits
Approves the county tax-benefit authorization for Google's proposed Project Cannoli data center in Van Buren Township, a condition of eligibility for sales and use tax exemptions.
current law · County project: Van Buren Charter Township (Project Cannoli)Requires county commission approval for an enterprise data center to qualify for state sales- and use-tax exemptions; that approval does not authorize construction.Wayne County Commission Override of County Executive Veto—Google Data Center Tax Incentives (2026)
What this means
The measure would help the project qualify for sales and use tax exemptions, a meaningful financial benefit. But it also includes community-benefit commitments, and county approval covers tax benefits—not construction approval—so the overall effect is positive but not unrestricted.
People behind it
- Panattoni
Project developer and proposer of the Project Cannoli data center.
- Google
Identified end user and proposed operator of the Project Cannoli data center.
- Van Buren Township
Local authority responsible for final development approval and local tax abatement; township officials approved tax incentives for the project.
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- Wayne County Commission
County body responsible for approving the county’s tax benefits and community benefits agreement under Act 198.
Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements3
County Commission approval is required under Act 198 for the project to qualify as an enterprise data center and remain eligible for state sales-tax and use-tax exemptions.
The project remains subject to Van Buren Township’s final site-plan review; the Planning Commission was expected to consider that review on October 14, 2026.
Final authority over the project’s development and any local tax abatement remains with Van Buren Township officials; the County Commission’s vote did not authorize construction or approve a development agreement.
Benefits & exceptionsHide benefits & exceptions3
Qualification as an enterprise data center under Act 198 makes the project eligible for sales-tax and use-tax exemptions, subject to the required County Commission approval. The Commission’s approval is required ... to remain eligible for sales tax and use tax exemptions
Van Buren Township approved $125 million in tax incentives for the project. Van Buren Township officials previously approved $125 million in tax incentives
The project developer must pay all grid-connection and related infrastructure costs, while residential electric customers are protected from rate increases attributable to the data center. will pay for all grid connection and infrastructure costs, will not raise residential electric rates
Sources
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