In rural Wisconsin, a town pushes aside a plan to build a massive data center

Residents of Cassville, Wisconsin, overwhelmingly voted to ban data center development for two years, effectively halting a proposed billion-dollar project in their rural community. During a vote at the town garage, 44 ballots were cast in favor of the ban and none against, demonstrating widespread opposition to the "unwelcome incursions by big tech into rural spaces." The anonymous developer's proposal, which promised 50 jobs and over $5.5 million in annual property tax revenue, was deemed insufficient to offset community concerns. The primary fears among Cassville residents include the devaluation of their properties, potential contamination of local wells, and increases in electricity bills. They also expressed dismay over the prospective loss of approximately 500 acres of the ecologically sensitive Driftless area. John Hawn, a retired resident, highlighted the area's natural beauty and the developers' apparent underestimation of local opposition. The project had been shrouded in secrecy, with no company identified, leading to public speculation. Ron Brisbois, executive director of the Grant County Economic Development Corp., had met with the developer but declined to name the company to protect the project's viability. Attorney Eric Hagen, representing the town, stated that making development inconvenient in Cassville might prompt the developer, who is also considering sites in Indiana and North Dakota, to seek locations with fewer regulations. The appeal of Cassville for such a project was its proximity to the high-voltage Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line, which began service in September 2024, capable of providing the estimated 400 to 500 megawatts needed. The Cassville ordinance, prohibiting data centers and regulating land-use changes for two years, is part of a broader trend of Midwestern communities pushing back against data center expansion. Similar movements include Port Washington's referendum against tax incentives without voter approval and Wisconsin lawmakers proposing bills to prevent developers from using confidential non-disclosure agreements. Across the river in Clayton County, Iowa, officials are also considering zoning and size restrictions for data centers. Brisbois later questioned if the objections stemmed more from data centers' tarnished image than actual resource concerns, noting the developer has been quiet since the vote due to the lack of local tax incentives.