Van Orden Reveals His Data Center Non-Negotiables for Wisconsin

Congressman Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin has articulated his "non-negotiables" for data center development within the state, responding to growing community concerns across the U.S. regarding the expansion of AI data centers. During an interview with Stephanie Myers of One America News, Van Orden highlighted key issues for Wisconsinites, including the protection of productive agricultural land, limiting water usage, controlling noise and pollution, and ensuring local communities have a significant say in development decisions.

Van Orden proposed an "eloquent solution" involving public-private partnerships to build data centers on existing military bases. He noted that such locations are unsuitable for farming and could incorporate advanced technologies like closed-loop air-cooled systems to drastically reduce water usage and pollution. This strategy, according to the Congressman, would also address noise concerns due to remote locations and utilize federal reservations, thereby "ameliorating completely valid concerns" from citizens.

The Congressman emphasized the importance of local control, stating his personal sentiment as a resident of a small village, "I don't want a data center right there." He also briefly touched upon the broader national security implications of the "AI war," suggesting that the nation's leadership in AI is critical for future defense, linking it to the need for data center infrastructure. He mentioned efforts to investigate foreign funding related to disinformation but reiterated that local citizen input on development in their communities remains paramount.