LANSING, Mich. (WILX) -The company behind a proposed data center in the heart of the capital city made its case for the community and city leaders Monday night.

On Monday, Deep Green, the company behind the project, hosted a roundtable alongside business leaders, labor unions and city partners — all people who could be affected if this project is approved.

A $120 million proposal could reshape a stretch of downtown Lansing. The European company Deep Green is pitching what it calls a new kind of data center — one that captures waste heat and feeds it back into Lansing’s energy system.

“Taking vacant parcels of land and redeveloping them is going to only enhance the walkability of that corridor,” said Tim Daman of the Lansing Chamber.

Supporters say the project could modernize downtown infrastructure and lower long-term energy costs.

“We are originally budgeted to build a $5 million satellite plant in the downtown area and that plant can be totally eliminated or downsized by 75%,” said Dick Peffley of the Lansing Board of Water & Light.

But Monday night, the optimism faced pushback as neighbors raised concerns during a public hearing at City Council.

“The last time they talked to us, they pushed most of those concerns off after the rezoning, which just can’t happen, because once rezoning and construction begins, the people have no say in what actually happens,” said Prayag Shankar, a Michigan State University student.

Those concerns echoed inside council chambers, with members pressing for more data before moving forward.

“I’m going to talk about some calculations that I did myself and at this point you probably can’t repeat if any of them are correct or inaccurate because you have not provided us with any of these types,” said Deyanira Nevarez Martinez, 2nd Ward council member.

The Council says the debate isn’t just about land, energy or the environment. It’s about who benefits from development and who gets a voice in shaping it.

“When we allow corporations to feed off these communities without giving anything back, it weighs our own community down. We are less vibrant,” Shankar said.

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