Could AI-data centers drain the Great Lakes?

News Clip1:12Milwaukee Journal Sentinel·Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI·6/18/2026

This video features an expert from the UWM School of Freshwater Sciences discussing the potential water drain on the Great Lakes caused by AI data centers. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is hosting an upcoming town hall on July 29, inviting top gubernatorial candidates to address questions about data centers.

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Melissa K. Scanlan, the director of the Center for Water Policy at UWM School of Freshwater Sciences, discussed whether AI data centers could drain the Great Lakes. She was one of the panelists at the Journal Sentinel’s town hall on data centers earlier this year. The Journal Sentinel is hosting another town hall on July 29 and this time we're inviting the top Democratic and Republican candidates for governor to answer questions about data centers. Full details of next town hall: https://tinyurl.com/datacentertownhalljuly29 Subscribe: https://jsonline.com/deal Sign up for our email newsletters: https://jsonline.com/newsletters