Residents demand transparency on Port Washington's $15B AI data center's water and environmental impact
Port Washington residents are demanding transparency regarding the water and environmental impact of Vantage's $15 billion "Lighthouse" AI data center. The Wisconsin Sierra Club has sued the state's Department of Natural Resources, alleging a lack of an environmental impact statement for the project. Local authorities are installing new water meters, but residents remain concerned about oversight and public access to information.
Residents of Port Washington, Wisconsin, are pressing for greater transparency concerning the water consumption and environmental oversight of Vantage's "Lighthouse" AI data center campus, a $15 billion project being developed on former farmland. Anna Seidl, a Port Washington neighbor, expressed confusion and a desire for developers to publicly share information about the hyper-scale facility's energy and water usage, as well as legal protections.
Elizabeth Ward, director of the Wisconsin chapter of the Sierra Club, confirmed her organization is suing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) over the absence of an environmental impact statement for the project. Ward questioned the DNR's decision not to conduct a review and its implications for future enforcement, emphasizing the need for developers to minimize environmental impacts.
In response to concerns, the Port Washington water utility superintendent stated that two new water meters are being installed to track the data center's exact usage for billing purposes. However, the utility declined to provide public access to the meters or usage numbers without customer consent. Vantage Data Centers states its Port Washington facility will use 22,000 gallons of water daily for general use and a one-time 12 million gallons for a key component. Dana Adams, President of Vantage North America, affirmed the company's transparency, citing publicly available project details on its website, including information on power, cooling, and sustainability efforts like a closed-loop water cooling system. Vantage also mentioned a $3 million commitment to a watershed restoration project in Port Washington as part of its environmental pledge.