Wrightstown Village Board sends data center question to a referendum
The Wrightstown Village Board has approved a non-binding referendum for August to determine public opinion on data center development, following significant resident concerns about health, environmental, and social impacts. This decision was made over implementing a moratorium, though the possibility of a moratorium is still being explored. The referendum aims to gauge community sentiment before any future data center proposals are formally considered.
The Wrightstown Village Board has unanimously approved a non-binding referendum to be held on August 11, during the partisan primary election, allowing residents to weigh in on data center development within the village. The decision comes amidst considerable public anxiety regarding potential health, environmental, and social impacts of a large data center, specifically a proposed 1-gigawatt facility by Cloverleaf Infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
Village officials, including Administrator Travis Coenen and attorney Christopher Smith from von Briesen & Roper, opted for the referendum over a development moratorium, which some board members, like Ryan Roebke, viewed as a better option due to state limitations on moratorium length. Despite choosing the referendum, the village continues to explore the possibility of a moratorium, though Coenen expressed reservations about its legal applicability given state laws. The referendum question was deliberately complex to comply with Wisconsin's Act 12, which restricts referenda questions to specific categories.
Board members, while open to data centers for economic reasons, acted on residents' concerns and a perceived erosion of trust. The referendum is intended to inform future Village Board decisions should a data center proposal materialize. Critics, such as Village Board member Mark Leonard, found the referendum's wording convoluted, while others, like Roebke and Sue Byers, believe it will provide a valuable gauge of public opinion, including those who may not publicly voice support for data centers.