Port Washington's data center power line construction dealt a major blow
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin delivered a major setback to a proposed AI data center in Port Washington by ruling that the energy company, ATK, must restart its application process for power line construction due to numerous changes. This decision, influenced by significant public opposition, means a delay for the project.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin recently delivered a significant setback to a proposed AI data center in Port Washington by ruling that the energy company, ATK, must restart its application process for constructing essential power lines. The decision came after the PSC deemed ATK's application incomplete due to dozens of changes, a determination that members of the Responsible Energy Alliance celebrated.
Leading up to Thursday's PSC meeting in Madison, the commission received more than 2,500 public comments, many expressing strong opposition to the data center project in general, citing concerns like the volatility of the AI industry and the project's overall desirability. Residents in the path of the proposed power lines also voiced distress, with one individual stating the lines would "literally condemn our house and condemn my husband's business."
The PSC's unanimous decision means ATK's application is not complete, forcing the company to consider its options. While ATK expressed disappointment, the PSC clarified that its ruling is not an outright rejection of the data center project itself but rather a "reset" for the power line construction application. This move is expected to cause significant delays for both the power lines and the data center's construction timeline.