BA developer just walked away from a ten-billion-dollar Michigan data center after the township board voted six to nothing against it.
ASix to nothing? Not one vote for fifty-three million a year?
BPolymarket posted the number on X: fifty-four million in annual tax revenue, plus a twenty-million community fund.
AI checked. It's actually fifty-three million in annual revenue, not necessarily all tax. The twenty million was part of the pitch.
BEven so, that's real money for a small township. They passed a data center moratorium in April, so the developer should've seen this coming.
ARight. Lighthouse Sustainability and LEAP pitched a seven-hundred-megawatt campus with no end user identified. That's a huge trust ask.
BBut here's my problem: towns kill projects like this, then complain about jobs and schools. You can't have it both ways.
AA data center isn't a factory. It creates a few dozen permanent jobs, uses enormous water and power, and leaves the town holding the risk.
BFifty-three million a year changes a local budget. Roads, fire, schools. This wasn't nothing.
AUnless the tax breaks are so big that number never materializes. These deals are notorious for that.
BOh come on, you're assuming bad faith. The board didn't even negotiate; they said no thanks and the developer left.
AThey had already passed a moratorium. The board was elected to reflect residents, not to chase a project the community didn't want.
BOne reply on X said it exactly: 'tripling the township's tax revenue still lost.' They think voters are idiots for rejecting money.
AAnother reply went further: 'You can't fix stupid.' That's the kind of arrogance that loses these fights.
BI'm not saying residents are stupid. I'm saying turning down fifty-three million without a counteroffer is a failure of leadership.
ANo, the leadership was the six-zero vote. They listened. That's how local government should work.
BFine. But don't be surprised when the next project goes to the next county over and takes the grid upgrades with it.
AThen the next county can decide if it wants a data center with no tenant. Good luck to them.
AMeanwhile, the energy rumor mill got louder tonight. Zerohedge is floating a claim that Trump offered China a swap: US oil instead of Iranian oil.
BZerohedge says Perdue said that. Until there's official confirmation, I'm filing it under rumors.
ARight, the post claims Trump told Xi he'd replace Iranian crude with American barrels. If true, that's a big shift in oil markets.
BIf true. China's been buying discounted Iranian oil for years. Why would Beijing give that up?
AMaybe to avoid sanctions. Maybe to get a trade deal. But there's no named source beyond Perdue.
BA former senator turned Trump ally says something dramatic. Alert the market.
AWell, oil traders do react to this stuff. That's why we mention it even unverified.
BBut we don't build a segment around it. It's a claim, not a fact.
AAgreed. The actual crude market will wait for something official.
BAnd if it ever happens, then we'll talk about who loses: Iran, Russia, maybe US shale wins.
AUntil then, it's a headline in search of a source.