KALKASKA — Rocklocker LLC will not move forward with a proposed data center project on public lands in Kalkaska County, company leader Matt Rine said in a statement.
Rine said that Rocklocker had explored what it believed could be a leading-edge net-zero data center in the county, supported by carbon sequestration provided by the company.
One option under consideration was building on public Department of Natural Resources land, and recent town halls were intended to gauge whether the community would support such a proposal.
Rine said in an updated news release Nov. 20 that feedback from residents made it clear that pursuing data center development on public lands is not feasible or appropriate at this time, and that Rocklocker will no longer pursue the project.
“To further clarify and elaborate on our statement this morning, Rocklocker explored what we believed could be a tremendous opportunity to help develop a leading-edge, net-zero data center in Kalkaska County, supported by carbon sequestration provided by our company. One of the options evaluated was the possibility of building on public DNR lands, and our participation in the recent town halls was intended to engage the community and understand whether such a proposal would be supported.
“We are grateful for the feedback offered by residents and for the time community members dedicated to this process. It became clear through these discussions that pursuing a data center development on public lands is not feasible or appropriate at this time, and Rocklocker will no longer be pursuing this project.”
He said the company heard a wide range of perspectives, including many concerns that were voiced openly, as well as support from people willing to consider potential benefits.
“Some feedback was delivered anonymously and in ways that were personally distressing to Rocklocker personnel and their families, which was disappointing. It’s sad that such an important discussion and community feedback be halted for such reasons,” he said. “Some feedback was delivered anonymously and in ways that were personally distressing to Rocklocker personnel and their families, which was disappointing. It’s sad that such an important discussion and community feedback be halted for such reasons.”
Rine described Rocklocker as a clean-energy company focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing responsible environmental stewardship.
While the company will not move forward with any data center proposal on public lands, he said Rocklocker remains committed to developing and operating carbon-sequestration projects and providing low-carbon solutions for Michigan industrial carbon dioxide emitters.
He said data center development will continue across the country and Rocklocker aims to support energy producers with carbon-storage solutions as they work to meet growing power demand.
The informational meeting that had been scheduled for Thursday evening in Coldsprings Township has been canceled.
Rine, a Traverse City geologist, had been pursuing plans for a hyperscale data center on 1,440 acres of state land near Island Lake and South River roads. The project called for a gigawatt-scale campus with its own natural gas power plant, carbon capture and storage,= and cooling systems designed to reduce water use.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources denied Rine’s request to purchase the land in July, citing missing documentation, opposition from conservation groups and concerns that the proposal did not align with the agency’s mission.
The project drew support from several Kalkaska governmental bodies and organizations, which pointed to potential benefits including more than $40 million in annual tax revenue and hundreds of jobs.
Opponents launched a website and petition arguing the development would pose environmental risks and dramatically alter the rural landscape.
Environmental groups also raised concerns about groundwater withdrawals, loss of forested land, habitat fragmentation and increased stormwater runoff.
Similar data center proposals across the country have faced delays or cancellations amid growing local pushback.