Michigan FOIA Request — State financial commitment to the University of Michigan / Los Alamos supercomputing laboratory

The paper trail

1. We sent

   Michigan FOIA Request — State financial commitment to the University of Michigan / Los Alamos supercomputing laboratory

   To the FOIA Coordinator, Michigan Department of Treasury:
   
   Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.231 et seq., I request copies of the following public records.
   
   Subject matter: the proposed U.S. Department of Energy supercomputing national laboratory led by Los Alamos National Laboratory, in conjunction with the University of Michigan, in Ypsilanti Township — including the October 27, 2023 letter from Michigan Economic Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer Quentin L. Messer, Jr. to University of Michigan President Santa Ono committing up to $400,000,000 in state support (the "Commitment Letter"), on which the State Treasurer was copied.
   
   Time period: June 1, 2022 through the date this request is processed.
   
   Part A — The commitment
   The Commitment Letter as received, transmitted or filed by the Department, together with any transmittal correspondence.
   Any analysis, memorandum, briefing document or financial model prepared by or for the Department concerning the proposed $400,000,000 commitment, including its feasibility, the state’s capacity to fund it, and the instruments contemplated.
   Records concerning the bonding authority referenced in the Commitment Letter: which bonding programs were contemplated, what analysis was performed on debt capacity or debt service, and any opinion on whether such bonding was available or appropriate.
   Records concerning the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund in relation to this project, including any proposed or actual allocation.
   Records concerning any transfer from or appropriation of the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund in connection with this project.
   Any record revising, reducing, superseding, rescinding or withdrawing the Commitment Letter, or documenting that it lapsed.
   Any analysis or communication concerning the relationship between the $400,000,000 commitment and the $100,000,000 Strategic Site Readiness Program grant approved December 10, 2024, including any explanation of why the amount changed.
   Part B — Risk, structure and exposure
   Any analysis of the state’s financial exposure if the project is delayed, reduced in scope, relocated or abandoned, including analysis of the clawback and repayment provisions in the grant agreement.
   Any analysis concerning the special purpose vehicle (SPV) debt financing described in the project’s funding structure, including the Department’s view of that structure, any state involvement in it, and any contingent liability to the state.
   Any analysis concerning whether federal funding for this project had been appropriated or otherwise committed, and the consequences for the state if it is not.
   Any credit, ratings, or fiscal impact analysis concerning this project.
   Part C — Communications
   All communications — including email, text messages, letters and calendar invitations — between Department personnel and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation or the Michigan Strategic Fund concerning this project.
   All communications between Department personnel and the University of Michigan, including President Santa Ono and Vice President for Government Relations Chris Kolb.
   All communications between Department personnel and Los Alamos National Laboratory, Triad National Security LLC, the National Nuclear Security Administration, or the U.S. Department of Energy concerning this project.
   All communications with members or staff of the Michigan Legislature or the Executive Office of the Governor concerning funding for this project.
   Any briefing materials, talking points or notes prepared for the State Treasurer in advance of Michigan Strategic Fund Board consideration of this project, including for the December 10, 2024 meeting at which Resolution 2024-176 was adopted.
   Likely custodians. Responsive records are likely held by the Office of the State Treasurer, including Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and her executive staff, and by Department personnel working on bonding, debt management, revenue estimating, or economic development finance.
   
   Format: I request records in native electronic format with metadata intact, delivered electronically. For email, please include complete messages with headers and attachments.
   
   Fees: I request a waiver or reduction under MCL 15.234(1). These records concern a proposed commitment of up to $400 million in public funds to a project in my community, and their disclosure is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations of a public body. If fees are assessed, please provide a detailed itemized estimate and contact me before incurring any cost above $50. I am willing to narrow this request by date range, custodian, or individual item, and would rather discuss scope than receive a denial.
   
   If any portion is denied, please cite the specific exemption for each withheld record and release all reasonably segregable non-exempt portions under MCL 15.244. I note that factual material is not exempt as frank communications under MCL 15.243(1)(m), and that the exemption requires the public interest in withholding to outweigh the public interest in disclosure.
   
   Please treat this as a request to preserve all records described above.
   
   Sincerely,
   Andrew Melichar