County expected to endorse tech park

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Board of Commissioners is expected to pass a resolution supporting the proposed Great Lakes Technology Park tonight during its regular meeting.
The State of Michigan has issued a request for proposals provide data hosting facilities to house essential electronic data that will enable the state government to better serve its citizens.
The proposal request includes an objective that the new facilities include plans and strategies that will result in the development of new electronic technologies economic opportunities that will help to strengthen and diversify Michigan’s economy.
The resolution states the Ludington area offers significant attributes that make it the ideal location to house a new data center complex, including ideal weather that supports cooling needs, extremely low potential for natural disasters, a highly reliable power grid, access to fiber networks for data transmittal and many other elements.
In particular, the Consumers Energy pumped storage hydroelectric plant and Lake Winds Energy Park (wind turbines) are enticing elements. The two electrical facilities provide alternative, green energy. The hydroelectric plant’s water storage reservoir can help provide cooling for the proposed facility’s liquid cooling needs.
Developer Boji Group, in conjunction with Hewlett Packard Corp., Consumers Energy, Jones Lang LaSalle, Albert Kahn Architects, the Christman Company, Clark Construction and others, is finalizing a response to the request for proposals. Boji is proposing the Great Lake Technology Park, to be located in Pere Marquette Township on the north side of Chauvez Road across from the pumped storage plant.
The county commission meets at 7 p.m. in the courthouse.