Where David Crowley and Tom Tiffany stand on data centers
The two leading candidates for Wisconsin governor, David Crowley and Tom Tiffany, are campaigning on their differing stances regarding data center development in the state. Both candidates acknowledge growing voter opposition to data centers and propose stricter regulations, though they diverge on issues like tax subsidies. Their debate highlights the increasing political focus on the industry's impacts on the state.
The gubernatorial race in Wisconsin sees Democratic candidate David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany clashing over the burgeoning data center industry in the state. Data centers have become an increasingly controversial issue, with a recent statewide poll indicating that nearly 80% of Wisconsin voters believe the costs of building these facilities outweigh the benefits.
Both candidates are actively working to portray their opponent as overly favorable to big tech. Crowley and Tiffany both oppose statewide moratoriums on data center construction but advocate for stricter regulations. They agree on banning non-disclosure agreements that conceal project details from the public and requiring data center companies to cover their own energy costs, with Crowley specifically pushing for 100% renewable energy for projects receiving subsidies. However, they differ on tax incentives; Tiffany calls for an outright end to such subsidies, including a sales tax exemption that could cost the state over $2 billion, while Crowley proposes conditional tax breaks tied to benchmarks like clean power use and community benefits. The candidates are also questioning each other's campaign donations, with Crowley receiving support from unions involved in data center projects and Tiffany accepting donations from Amazon and data center lobbyists.
Despite the strong voter sentiment against data centers, the issue currently ranks low on the list of most concerning topics for Wisconsin residents, behind inflation and cost of living. Neither candidate's specific proposals, such as Tiffany's plan to protect farmland or Crowley's mandate for union labor, are straightforward to implement under existing state laws.