Draft report shows data centers could dramatically increase electric demand in Wisconsin

A new draft report from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) indicates that the state's electricity demand could surge by over 40% by 2032, primarily due to the growth of hyperscale data centers. The report projects peak electricity demand to increase from 14.2 gigawatts to more than 20 gigawatts, with over 72% of this growth attributed to three active data center developments: Microsoft's campus in Mount Pleasant, Oracle's campus in Port Washington, and Meta's data center in Beaver Dam.

Utilities like We Energies and Alliant Energy, which serve these projects, have stated their commitment to an "all-of-the-above" energy generation strategy, including investments in natural gas, renewables, and battery storage, totaling over $12.5 billion for We Energies. However, consumer advocates like the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin and environmental groups such as Clean Wisconsin have expressed significant concerns. Amy Barrilleaux of Clean Wisconsin called the concentration of demand from three projects "shocking" and raised alarms about the reliance on natural gas, warning it could harm communities and worsen climate change. Tom Content of the Citizens Utility Board emphasized the need for more state oversight.

Separately, the Oneida County Planning and Development Committee recently passed a proposed interim moratorium on data centers, which now awaits approval from the full county board. This action follows a public hearing where residents voiced concerns about data centers' high water and electricity consumption, noise, and potential pollution.