Cass County — Michigan Citizens Coalition
Tracking active threats to Cass County land, water, and air — and organizing residents to show up, speak up, and hold officials accountable.
We are not anti-development.
We are anti-secrecy. We are anti-done-deal.
We are pro-Cass County.
The Issues
We are tracking developments that could permanently reshape Cass County's land, water, and air.
Data Centers
Hyperscale Data, Inc. / Alliance Cloud Services LLC
Las Vegas-based operator runs a data center at 415 E. Prairie Ronde Street, Dowagiac, MI 49047. Currently 30 MW; 340 MW planned; up to 3,000 MW long-term ambition. The 83-acre campus sits within 300 feet of 30+ Louise Avenue homes.
- 30 MW operating today — 340 MW planned expansion
- 3,000 MW long-term ambition
- 83-acre campus, 48.5 ac forested land acquired June 26, 2026
- 30+ Louise Avenue homes within 300 feet of facility
- Federal class action noise lawsuit filed May 26, 2026
Class action noise lawsuit filed against Hyperscale — May 26, 2026
Fibrosan Factory
Fibrosan Corp.
Fibrosan Corp. announced a fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) manufacturing facility in Cassopolis on June 26, 2026, with a groundbreaking July 1. FRP operations emit styrene, VOCs, and hazardous air pollutants — all requiring an EGLE Permit to Install.
- $16.8M investment, 35 Phase 1 jobs
- Target opening: March 2027
- Emits styrene, VOCs, and hazardous air pollutants
- EGLE Permit to Install required
- Located in MEC SMART Park, Cassopolis
Fibrosan breaks ground on new manufacturing facility — July 1, 2026
Solar Farms
Multiple developers
Michigan Public Act 233 lets large solar developers appeal to the Public Service Commission to override local zoning. A strong Certified Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO) is a township's best leverage — but only if adopted before a developer files.
- Weeds Lake / Hiple Solar — 539 MW planned (largest in Michigan)
- Gemstone Solar — 150 MW, Jefferson Township (~1,000 acres)
- PA 233 allows developers to override local zoning via MPSC
- Townships must adopt CREO before developer files to retain leverage
- Cass County draft solar ordinance under review
Weeds Lake / Hiple Solar project tracker updated — July 1, 2026
Ag Land Rezoning
Pokagon Township Planning Commission
A 47-acre combined parcel along the M-51 South corridor in Pokagon Township is being rezoned from R1 (Residential) to C2 (Commercial), per the Township Planning Commission's June 23, 2026 public hearing. Michigan loses thousands of acres of farmland every year — once it is paved, it does not come back.
- 47-acre parcel on M-51 South corridor, Pokagon Township
- Rezoning from R1 Residential to C2 Commercial
- Public hearing held June 23, 2026
- Separate from Hyperscale data center acquisition
- Michigan loses thousands of farmland acres annually
Pokagon Township Planning Commission public hearing — June 23, 2026
Fact Sheets, Presentations & Evidence
Independent studies, annotated permits, expert recordings, and plain-language fact sheets. Free to download and share.
PDF · U.S. District Court / classaction.org
Federal Class Action Complaint — Valenzuela et al. v. Alliance Cloud Services
The full 20-page federal complaint filed May 26, 2026 in the U.S. District Court, W.D. Michigan, alleging nuisance and negligence over 24/7 noise from the Dowagiac data center.
Article · WWMT
Residents Suing Hyperscale Data Center Over 'Unreasonable, Excessive Noise'
Background on the noise ordinance, the class action, and resident accounts of round-the-clock noise from the Dowagiac facility.
Article · ABC57
Pokagon Band Supports Dowagiac's Call for Data Center Transparency
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi's public statement backing Mayor Bakeman's transparency demand.
Press Release · PR Newswire
Fibrosan Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility in Cassopolis
Fibrosan's own release on the June 30, 2026 groundbreaking — $16.8M investment, 35 Phase 1 jobs, March 2027 target opening.
Database · Cleanview
Weeds Lake / Hiple Solar — 539 MW Project Tracker
Independent project database entry for the largest planned solar farm in Michigan, sited in Cass County.
PDF · Cass County Planning Commission
Cass County Utility-Scale Solar Energy System Ordinance (Draft)
County Planning Commission draft standards for large solar systems — escrow requirements, decommissioning, wildlife-friendly fencing.
Article · Moody on the Market
Walberg Warns About Robotics Work Tied to Dowagiac Data Center
Rep. Tim Walberg raised federal-level concerns about robotics and AI operations tied to the Dowagiac data center — intelligence developed and supplied to his office by our Citizens Coalition after weeks of on-the-ground investigation.
Find Your Township
Each township has its own Facebook group for local meeting alerts, updates, and action calls.
Municipalities
Incorporated cities and villages within Cass County. Click any municipality to view officials, contact info, and meeting resources.
From Awareness to Action
This is a volunteer-run coalition. Every action, no matter how small, contributes to a stronger, more informed community.
Submit Public Comment
Your voice on record matters. Draft and submit testimony before the August 15 hearing — every comment counts.
Attend a Meeting
Show up, speak up, and bring a neighbor. Check the meetings calendar for dates and locations near you.
Spread the Word
Share fact sheets with your network. Awareness is the first step toward accountability.
Join the Coalition
Get meeting reminders, breaking updates, and action alerts. Connect with neighbors in the Facebook group.
Be informed. Be involved.
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