Port Washington Passes Referendum On Data Center Deals

Voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, have overwhelmingly approved a referendum mandating voter approval for development incentives exceeding $10 million. This measure, which passed with approximately 66% of the vote, stems from significant community backlash against the City Council's previous approval of a Tax Incremental District (TID) for a multi-billion-dollar data center campus. Great Lakes Neighbors United, a local group opposing the data center, lauded the referendum's passage as a victory for transparency and public participation. The vote mirrors a broader unease across Wisconsin regarding rapid data center expansion, with recent Marquette Law School polls indicating a growing public sentiment that the costs, particularly related to water and energy usage, outweigh the benefits. Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, noted the substantial shift in public opinion, suggesting the issue could influence upcoming state elections and potentially lead to more local referendums in the absence of statewide regulation. Business organizations, including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, have challenged the legality of the ordinance by suing the City of Port Washington, arguing it will hinder economic development. However, a judge previously declined to prevent the ordinance from going to a referendum. Great Lakes Neighbors United has also filed a separate lawsuit contesting the original TID created for the data center project. A scheduling conference for the lawsuit challenging the ordinance is set for April 16.