Up and down the ballot, data centers are becoming a motivating issue for voters

Data centers have emerged as a significant motivating factor for voters across Wisconsin, profoundly influencing recent local elections for judges, school boards, county boards, mayors, and city alders. Experts, such as Hannah Wiseman from Penn State's Center for Energy Law and Policy, note that data centers are sparking a broader range of community concerns and drawing increased political interest, compelling candidates to address their stance on these projects. The heightened awareness in Wisconsin has led to a predominantly negative public perception, transcending traditional party lines. This sentiment was evident in Port Washington, where voters garnered national attention for approving a referendum that grants citizens more input on data center development. In Janesville, the proposed data center at the former General Motors plant site galvanized the community, leading to the election of Cassandra Pope to the city council, who campaigned on a platform of greater development transparency and opposition to the project. Proponents highlight potential job creation and tax revenue, while opponents express anxieties about increased energy costs, excessive water consumption, and noise and light pollution. Recent polling from Marquette University indicates a growing majority of Wisconsinites, including both Republicans and Democrats, believe the costs associated with data centers outweigh their benefits. Matthew Crowe, the newly elected mayor of Menomonie, who ousted a 16-year incumbent, observed that while he didn't campaign solely on data center opposition, many voter concerns stemmed directly from a proposed $1.6 billion data center project in his city. Community pushback eventually led to the project's pause, and the city council, with Crowe serving, subsequently approved an ordinance to restrict future data center development. Crowe also pointed out that the data center debate brought to light broader issues of government transparency, accountability, and the implications of AI, which heavily relies on data center processing power. Wiseman concludes that the diverse concerns unite disparate voter groups, reflecting not just opposition to the infrastructure itself, but also growing apprehension regarding the significant financial, political, and corporate power wielded by data center developers, alongside tactics like non-disclosure agreements used to advance projects. This trend of data center-motivated political change is not unique to Wisconsin, as a St. Louis suburb recently saw four city council members ousted in a backlash against a proposed $6 billion data center.