According to Deep Green spokespeople from the event, the development will serve as a leasing space for companies to charter servers for storing large amounts of data. Lansing Board of Water and Light (LBWL) would provide power to the 24-megawatt data center, and in return, it would provide carbon-neutral heat for LBWL’s hot water system. 

Hosted by Lansing City Council members and the UK-based company Deep Green, the event had various tables and posters set up from organizations related to the center's development along with an open bar of coffee and muffins next to advertisements for the project. 

Many of those in attendance were students affiliated with Sunrise Movement Michigan State University, which had encouraged students via Instagram on Wednesday to gather and oppose the project.

Students addressed various concerns, including environmental impact, accountability and the lack of community voices.

"We are generally against a future governed by AI," said social policy and relations senior Henry Jerred. "We want to make our voices heard as much as possible."

Many student's complained of the event's misleading nature, noting that it was advertised more as a public forum. Some felt it functioned less as a space for community voices and more as a promotional event.

Jerred, a coordinator with the group, was joined by political science senior Prayag Shankar, a fellow executive board member. The two were standing by an empty table, represented by the Lansing Economic Development Corporation. 

"These organizations aren’t even telling us anything. This just seems to be a PR campaign," Shankar said, gesturing to the empty table. 

Organizations such as the LBWL, the Lansing Planning Office and Deep Green spokespeople had tables set up with flyers advertising their commitment to economic development and environmental sustainability.

Alayna Vandoeselaar, an English and professional and public writing junior, struggled to get a question in as she waited next to a diagram of the data center’s internal cooling system.

"They seem to have a better approach, but I struggle to believe there will be any accountability," she said. "No one is talking about what companies will use it, and how far they’ll go."

While Deep Green is aiming to "keep major AI companies out of it," they are already advancing agreements with large utility companies such as DTE, according to Matt Gragg, the CTO and a cofounder of the company. 

Although there was not much room for public input, Sunrise members felt that the high student turnout was important. 

"Students have a unique impact, said Olivia Schaefer, a social relations and policy senior and the organization’s lead coordinator. "We are connected to the community and bring passion."

Next month, the city council will vote on whether or not to allow the $120 million data center to be built along East Kalamazoo Street between Cedar and Larch streets. On Monday, the city council will hold a space for public comment, which Sunrise is encouraging students to attend. 

"We need to keep showing up," Schaefer said. "If we stop here, it sets a precedent for future movements."