The activists’ guide to killing a data center
Residents of Caledonia, Wisconsin, led by retired tech exec Prescott Balch, successfully opposed Microsoft's Project Nova data center due to concerns over noise, energy, water use, and preservation of open space. The village planning commission approved the rezoning, but Microsoft withdrew its proposal before a final vote by the village board amid community backlash. Balch is now teaching other communities how to organize against data center developments.
In Caledonia, Wisconsin, a local opposition movement led by retired tech executive Prescott Balch successfully halted Microsoft's plans for a massive 244-acre data center, codenamed Project Nova. Balch, who lives near the proposed site, rallied residents through a private Facebook group, meticulously researching village board members and crafting arguments against the project's environmental and economic impacts.
Despite the Caledonia village planning commission voting to approve the rezoning of the land from agricultural to industrial, Microsoft withdrew its proposal in October, just days before the village board was set to make a final decision. The company cited a commitment to "listen to community feedback" and has since pledged to minimize water use, pay for energy needs, avoid property tax breaks, and refrain from NDAs in local negotiations for future projects.
The article highlights that community opposition to data centers is growing nationally, citing examples like an appeals court blocking a rezoning in Prince William County, Virginia, and voters ousting city council members in Festus, Missouri, for approving a data center. Balch has become a leading figure in this movement, consulting with activist groups across several states and even testifying before the Wisconsin State Senate to share his blueprint for community resistance.
Balch, who subsequently won a seat on Caledonia's village board, emphasizes the importance of understanding local government processes and building strong, analytical arguments to counter powerful tech companies. His success underscores a rising trend where local communities are actively challenging and often winning against large-scale data center developments.