Gibraltar continues review of proposed 100-megawatt data center at former McLouth Steel site

Gibraltar continues reviewing a proposed 100-megawatt data center at the former McLouth Steel site, keeping a major local land-use and infrastructure question before city officials and residents.

The proposal is identified in official city and Wayne County materials as the Raeden data center project. The county’s data-center FAQ describes a proposed 100-megawatt facility in Gibraltar, while the city maintains a dedicated FAQ for the project.

Resident survey completed

The city issued a public survey for residents from April 23 through May 7, 2026. The survey was intended to gather public input about the proposed project as Gibraltar continues its review.

That resident input is part of the public decision process, but it does not represent final approval. The supplied city and county materials do not establish that Gibraltar has approved or rejected the data center.

Questions extend beyond the site

Review of the proposal could affect how Gibraltar considers zoning and industrial land use at the former steel site. It also brings infrastructure questions involving electric demand, water and wastewater planning, and traffic.

The project may also shape expectations about the site’s future and its potential role in the local tax base. However, the approved materials do not provide verified projections for jobs, tax revenue or utility costs. They also do not establish the project’s ultimate water or power requirements, construction financing or a construction start date.

Because the property is a former major industrial site, the review also concerns the future of a significant brownfield location. The available documents do not include a final project filing or official study establishing specific environmental effects.

Public review remains underway

Gibraltar’s official events calendar, current as of Aug. 8, 2026, lists August meetings of the Planning Commission/DDA and the Infrastructure Advisory Committee. Those meetings provide continuing public venues for development and infrastructure review related to the proposal.

The next outcome is therefore further local review rather than a confirmed construction schedule. Residents seeking project information are directed by the city’s FAQ to contact city officials. The city’s review remains ongoing, and any final action, project timetable or detailed infrastructure requirements would need to be established through later official materials.