Van Orden Reaffirms Non-Negotiables for Data Center Development in Wisconsin

Congressman Derrick Van Orden, representing Wisconsin, has publicly reaffirmed his core principles for responsible data center development across the state. Speaking from La Crosse, Van Orden emphasized that data centers must not be permitted at the expense of Wisconsin's agricultural land, water supplies, electricity ratepayers, or local communities.

His "Non-Negotiables" outline several key areas. First, he insists on local control and buy-in, ensuring that Wisconsin families and communities have the final say on what is built, preventing projects from being imposed without local consent. Second, he stressed the protection of productive Wisconsin farmland, stating it should not be paved over for data center facilities.

Regarding infrastructure and resources, Van Orden demands ratepayer protection, requiring data centers to have signed agreements with utilities to cover new energy and grid infrastructure costs before construction begins, preventing the burden from falling on Wisconsin families. He also highlighted the protection of Wisconsin's water, advocating for data centers to utilize technology that minimizes water impact, such as closed-loop and air-cooled systems, to prevent pollution or depletion of local water supplies. Finally, he called for prioritizing locations with existing infrastructure, including military bases, to mitigate noise pollution and avoid developing massive facilities in rural or community-centric areas. These principles will guide his future interactions with developers, local governments, utilities, and communities as Wisconsin evaluates new data center projects.