Businesses: other; thermal impact assessment requirements for certain data centers; provide for.

Michigan House Bill 6252 requires developers or operators of large-scale data centers to submit a thermal impact assessment to the state public service commission at least 120 days before beginning construction, expansion, or significant modifications. The bill defines a large-scale data center as one with an information technology load of 25 megawatts or more, or a total electrical demand of 50 megawatts or more, and mandates that these assessments be prepared by qualified professionals using standard scientific practices. Developers must pay a review fee and provide copies of the assessment to local governments, planning commissions, and zoning boards within 30 days of submission to ensure public notice of potential localized heat impacts. The commission will issue a certificate of completeness once it determines the submission is administratively complete, which expires after 24 months unless extended or updated. Violations of these requirements are subject to civil fines of up to $10,000 per day, and the bill explicitly states that it does not create new land use or permitting authority beyond this certification process.