Anti-Data Center Referendum Passes In Wisconsin Town By Huge Margin

Residents of Port Washington, Wisconsin, overwhelmingly approved an anti-data center referendum by a 2-to-1 margin, marking the first such vote in the country. The referendum, which requires voter approval for any future financing district larger than $10 million, was a direct response to Port Washington city officials' decision to approve a $458 million tax increment financing district in November 2025. This TIF district is intended to support a massive $15 billion AI data center planned by Oracle, OpenAI, and Vantage on the city's north side. While the referendum will not halt the existing data center project, it establishes a precedent for future similar developments. Christine Le Jeune, spokesperson for the group behind the referendum, lauded the outcome as democracy in action, emphasizing the public's right to have a say in how tax dollars are used. However, the referendum is anticipated to face legal challenges from state business interests, who argue it sets a dangerous precedent. Critics of data centers commonly raise concerns about their significant consumption of fresh water for cooling and their substantial energy demands. The article also highlights broader community concerns about data center expansion across the Midwest. In rural Kent County, Michigan, Microsoft hosted an open house to address local opposition to its planned data center, discussing closed-loop water systems and energy self-sufficiency, though residents remained skeptical. Separately, Ohio farmers are proposing a constitutional amendment to restrict data centers consuming over 25 megawatts of electricity monthly, citing data centers' growing national energy footprint (projected to reach 9% by 2030) and their perceived impact on rural energy prices in a state that already hosts 200 data centers.