Michiganders Oppose Proposed LANL Data Center at the University of Michigan in Ypsilanti Township

Last week residents of Ypsilanti Township expressed their anger over a proposed high-performance computing facility near the Huron River in a partnership between the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Residents are concerned that the proposed project would fuel research into the nuclear arms race.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE0fycQix-Q,   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1EVU54Zwbs

The proposed plan involves a $1.2 billion dollar computing facility of almost 300,000 square feet for classified federal research and non-classified university research in science and technologies. The Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Stockpile Stewardship Program would dedicate most of the space to LANL work that includes nuclear weapons research. The Stockpile Stewardship Program was developed after the end of the Cold War, has expanded and the NNSA has taken it over.  https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/stockpile-stewardship-and-management-plan-ssmp

Michiganders point out that the proposed research would go beyond maintaining the existing weapons stockpile.

Dylan Spaulding, a senior scientist at the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said it is not unusual for LANL to collaborate with the University of Michigan. He said, “There is a long history of collaboration between universities and the [DOE], or the [NNSA], as well as [the] Department of Defense.”  https://www.ucs.org/about/people/dylan-spaulding

He continued, “What appears to separate this collaboration may be the level of classification attached to this new data center.” Handling classified information “suggests that it may be sort of taking a more aggressive approach towards weapons-related science than fundamental science that you would find in the open literature.” He noted it is unusual for such a facility to handle such a large amount of classified research.

When asked by reporters, the University and LANL seemed to trade off the questions about their plans to each other.  It is important to know that LANL was unable to provide answers.

Stewart Prager, a professor of astrophysics at Princeton University, has concerns about how the Stockpile Stewardship Program has changed over the last 30 years. He said, “When the stockpile stewardship program was initiated, it was explicitly stated in documents in those days that this will not be used to develop any new capabilities. Period.” https://sgs.princeton.edu/node/19

Michigan students are opposed to the proposal and have formed a grassroots organization called “Stop the Data Center,” circulated a petition in opposition, and made yard signs and films.

Like the Michiganders, New Mexicans are also concerned about LANL’s expansion plans in both Michigan and New Mexico.

1. Friday, September 18^th from noon to 1 pm – Join the nuclear disarmament community at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval in Santa Fe for the weekly peaceful protest in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Bring your flags, signs and banners.

2. Friday, September 11^th through September 21^st – 11 Days of Global Unity – From Fear to Peace Through Unity – Broadcasts on each Theme begin every day of the 11 Days at 12 pm USA Eastern Time. OnYouTube https://www.youtube.com/wetheworldorg or OnFacebook https://www.facebook.com/thewecampaign

3. Saturday, September 19^th from 1 pm to 3 pm at Taos Public Library – FREE film showing of The World Is My Country and An Ordinary Insanity.    Note: Taos is the First Global Peace Zone (1995 to 2026).

4. Monday, September 21^st – International Day of Peace – There will be events around the world on or about September 21^st. https://worldbeyondwar.org/international-day-of-peace-2026

5. Wednesday, September 23^rd – In 1992, the United States conducted “Divider,” an underground nuclear weapons test at the Nevada Test Site. Divider was designed and executed by scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory. It was the nation’s 1,054^th and final nuclear weapons test. The US Senate had voted for a nine-month testing moratorium. The day after the test, President George H.W. Bush signed the moratorium into law.

6. Saturday, September 26^th – nternational Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.  Gathering of Creatives for Peace: Open Mic at Somos, 108 Civic Plaza Drive, Taos from 2 to 4 pm.

7. Saturday, September 26^th from 2 to 3:30 pm – Word -> Art -> Word: Starfabric Domes Spindle – Opening Reception with Artist’s Talk with C Pirloul-Broshi, Sawnie Morris, and David Mutshlecner at 2:30 pm. Ekphrastic poems inspired by Brian Shields’ paintings. Poets: Mary Cisper, Charlie Kalogeros-Chattan, Jane Lin, Sawnie Morris, C Pirloul-Broshi at Step Up Gallery at Mesa Public Library, 2400 Central Avenue, Los Alamos. https://stepupgallery.org/next-exhibit/

Tags: classified research, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, DOE, Dylan Spaulding, Global Security Program, GSP, LANL, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Princeton University, Stewart Prager, Stockpile Stewardship Program, Stop the Data Center, UCS, Union of Concerned Scientists, University of Michigan, Ypsilanti Township