Transparency concerns rise over proposed data center at Wisconsin Rapids former paper mill site
A proposed data center at the former paper mill site in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, is sparking public debate over transparency and resident involvement. A public action group is organizing a protest ahead of a meeting scheduled by the PNK Group, which involves former NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Mayor Matt Zacher has assured public discussion but faces criticism for a perceived lack of transparency.
A proposed hyper-scale data center campus at the former paper mill site in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, is generating significant public debate, primarily concerning transparency and community involvement. The site, which closed in 2020, is the focus of a development being explored by the PNK Group.
Residents and a local public action group have expressed strong concerns, including during a public forum in April. They argue that the process has lacked sufficient publicity and transparency from local government. Mayor Matt Zacher has stated the city has already imposed conditions on any potential data center and has promised more public discussion before decisions are made.
A meeting organized by the PNK Group is scheduled at the McMillan Memorial Library, where their team and former New York City Mayor Eric Adams are expected to meet with local officials and stakeholders. The action group, however, views this meeting as insufficiently publicized and plans a protest outside the library, citing discomfort with Adams's past federal bribery charges and a perceived lack of answers from city officials. The PNK Group asserts their preference for small group conversations to allow for detailed questions and an "evolving process of engagement."