Wisconsin Rapids common council says ‘no’ to data center permit
The Wisconsin Rapids Common Council voted 7-0 to reject PNK Group’s conditional use permit for a hyperscale data center at the former paper mill site. The decision followed months of organized opposition over the project’s completeness, noise, and potential effects on energy costs; the city also has a one-year data center moratorium while it reviews its ordinance.
The Wisconsin Rapids Common Council unanimously rejected PNK Group’s conditional use permit for a proposed hyperscale data center at the city’s former paper mill site. The proposal faced months of protests, informational meetings and public criticism from South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development, whose members raised concerns about noise, energy costs and the long-term effects of the facility.
The city previously enacted a one-year moratorium on data center proposals, with an option to extend it to 18 months. Wisconsin Rapids officials plan to use the pause to reevaluate the city’s data center ordinance before considering future applications, while PNK Group had promoted the project’s potential economic benefits.