Hong's data center moratorium
State Representative Francesca Hong proposed a statewide moratorium on new data center construction in Wisconsin, which ultimately failed to pass. The bill aimed to prohibit large data centers until conditions regarding utility costs, environmental protection, labor standards, and local approval were met. Business groups argued against it, stating it would hinder economic growth, while public opposition at local levels suggests widespread concern over data center impacts.
State Representative Francesca Hong, a Democrat, supported a moratorium on new data center construction in Wisconsin, a stance she shared in an interview with WPR. Her proposed bill, which failed to pass in the last legislative session, would have prevented large data centers from operating until specific conditions related to utility costs, environmental protections, labor standards, and local approval processes were addressed. Hong argued that without enforceable regulations, unchecked growth could lead to economic and environmental devastation.
Business groups, including the Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce led by Dale Koenigs, opposed the moratorium. They contended that the data center boom contributes significantly to economic growth, supporting manufacturers and thousands of union construction jobs, and that a moratorium would impede this progress. Despite competing regulatory proposals from both Democrats and Republicans failing to reach Governor Tony Evers' desk, recent polling indicates that approximately 70% of Wisconsin voters believe the costs associated with data centers outweigh their benefits.
Hong and other Democrats have also advocated for stricter environmental and labor regulations, and both Hong and Republican frontrunner Tom Tiffany have expressed desires to end data center subsidies. Charles Franklin of the Marquette University Law School noted that while data center debates at city councils and planning commissions see large turnouts of opposed citizens, it remains uncertain whether this issue will significantly motivate voters statewide on election day.