Charlie Berens to speak at Wisconsin Rapids data center informational event

Comedian and journalist Charlie Berens is set to join environmental and technology experts at a community informational event in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, on Wednesday. The event will focus on a proposed "hyperscale" data center planned for a site along the Wisconsin River. Berens has previously participated in similar forums across Wisconsin discussing the impacts of AI data centers. The forum, organized by South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development, will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School auditorium. Organizer Kaitlyn Federwitz stated that the goal is to inform residents about hyperscale data centers, which are described as being larger and more resource-intensive than traditional facilities. The event will also be livestreamed on YouTube. Federwitz emphasized the importance of the Wisconsin River as a vital freshwater resource and asserted that decisions of this magnitude should involve community input. Scheduled speakers include Berens; retired technology executive Prescott Balch; Dr. Brittany Keyes, clean air policy manager at Healthy Climate Wisconsin; representatives from the Wisconsin Farmers Union; and Port Washington resident Amanda Mueller, who reportedly has experienced impacts from data center development. Aliya Khan of the "Sun Up, Wisconsin!" podcast will host the event. This community forum precedes a May 4 hearing concerning a conditional use permit request for the data center project in Wisconsin Rapids.