Beaver Dam residents weigh in as second data center proposal looms

Residents of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin gathered in the town of Juno for a community town hall to discuss growing concerns about the Meta data center being constructed in Beaver Dam, as well as fears of a potential second data center on the horizon. Speakers at the event included comedian and commentator Charlie Berens, along with local residents and advocates. They raised a range of concerns, from environmental impacts to potential tax and utility burdens for the community. Resident Angela Davis, who lives across the street from the Meta facility, described how the construction has disrupted her family's peaceful property and way of life. The town hall was organized in response to the Beaver Dam Common Council's upcoming vote on Monday, March 16th to rezone a plot of land that could allow for a second data center development. Public comment at the meeting will be limited to just 20 minutes. According to the report, hyperscale data centers are also under construction in other Wisconsin cities like Port Washington and Mount Pleasant, and are being considered in places like Beloit, Janesville, Kenosha and Menomonie. The residents of Beaver Dam are determined to resist the data center development in their community and see what can be done to halt the first project as well as the potential second one.