Five public guardrails. One public record.
Jocelyn Benson published five standards she says Michigan data centers should meet. Jocelyn’s husband, Ryan Friedrichs, helped advance the Saline Township project. Put the rules next to the record and read for yourself.
Editorial photo composite. Data center background is an illustration, not a photograph of the Saline site.
01 / THE STATEMENT
“None of my family is profiting from data centers.”Jocelyn Benson · July 14, 2026 · Bridge Michigan ↗
Spouse · Employer · Related
Ryan Friedrichs
Senior Vice President–Michigan
$370,000.00
02 / HER FIVE GUARDRAILS
HER RULE
“Public hearings to ensure projects do not go through without residents having the opportunity to share their concerns.”
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS
The planning commission rejected the rezoning. The township board rejected it 4–1 on September 10, 2025. Related Digital sued two days later.
Planet Detroit · Oct. 21, 2025 ↗HER RULE
“Transparency and disclosure reporting to ensure no backdoor deals that exclude communities.”
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS
A settlement filed in Washtenaw County Circuit Court allowed the project to proceed after the public 4–1 rejection.
Read the consent judgment ↗HER RULE
“Requiring developers to prove prior to construction that the data center will not abuse natural resources – from water to land.”
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS
Partners celebrated active construction on June 1, 2026. In August, EGLE was still taking public comment on a draft permit for a 15,750-gallon-per-day discharge.
Draft permit reporting · Aug. 1, 2026 ↗HER RULE
“Data centers bear the cost of additional energy usage. Not the consumer.”
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS
DTE also said it could pause later rate requests if several conditions were met, including the Saline campus coming online by the end of 2027. Attorney General Dana Nessel called the offer “a ransom note.”
Planet Detroit · Apr. 29, 2026 ↗HER RULE
“Union contracts that ensure the creation of well-paying jobs.”
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS
The project announcement identifies 2,500+ union construction jobs and separately lists 450+ permanent onsite jobs. It does not say whether those permanent positions are union.
Project announcement · Jun. 1, 2026 ↗Five standards. One project.
03 / RYAN FRIEDRICHS
Benson’s May 15, 2025 disclosure amendment lists her spouse as a lobbyist for Related Companies, registration A-15746.
View spouse lobbyist disclosure ↗Friedrichs speaks at the joint Saline Township Board and Planning Commission meeting, two weeks after the Township Board rejected the rezoning 4 to 1. He appeared for the developer at least two public meetings, including Saline City Council on November 10, 2025.
Reporting on township emails says Friedrichs personally delivered the zoning application and participated in water discussions.
Read the email reporting ↗His LinkedIn statement said he would no longer work on Related projects in Michigan. The May 11 filing still listed “Senior Vice President–Michigan.”
View Ryan Friedrichs’ post ↗04 / CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
Supplier of data center networking equipment.
View filing screenshot ↗Developer behind the proposed Saline Township data center.
View filing screenshot ↗Technology partner behind the proposed Saline campus.
View filing screenshot ↗Verify executive affiliation ↗$1,532,125 in contributions.
Total includes individual contributions to Michigan Legacy PAC and Benson’s campaign committees. Company names identify affiliations, not corporate donors.
05 / THEIR RESPONSE
“Mr. Friedrichs has never had any role in the financing of Related Digital’s project and makes no commission from it.”
How does Ryan’s data center project compare to the 5 standards Benson says every data center should meet?
06 / THE RECEIPTS
