Data Centers pour lobbying dollars into Wisconsin as expansion grows in state

Lobbying expenditures in Wisconsin reached a ten-year peak in 2025, with significant funds dedicated to influencing data center development policies. Major cloud providers including Google LLC, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, along with companies like Vantage Data Centers, Ark Data Centers, and NetChoice, invested hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours in lobbying the Wisconsin Legislature. Their efforts primarily advocate for tax incentives, such as those in Assembly Bill 228, which aims to create "Data Center Districts" exempt from certain equalized value rules, making infrastructure financing easier. Google LLC alone spent over $200,000 lobbying in 2025. The push for data centers in Wisconsin is driven by the state's abundant water resources, resilient electric grid, and existing tax incentives, according to Cassie Steiner of the Wisconsin Chapter of Sierra Club. However, this expansion has sparked strong opposition. The Sierra Club, which also engaged in significant lobbying, advocates for stricter regulations, including mandates for data centers to use renewable energy, meet green building standards, report water usage, and contribute to a Green Innovation Fund, as outlined in Senate Bill 729. They argue against subsidizing "high polluting companies" with tax breaks and highlight Wisconsin's lagging clean energy standards compared to neighboring states. Concerns are mounting regarding the environmental impact and electricity affordability. Research from the Union of Concerned Scientists suggests that mid-level data center growth could lead to over 41 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2035. Polling by Wisconsin Conservation Voters indicates that 93% of Wisconsinites believe data centers should cover all their energy costs, and 84% are worried about rising electricity prices. A significant majority (70%) feel the costs of data centers outweigh the benefits, and almost all polled disapproved of proposed utility tariff structures for data centers. Opponents, including Steiner, emphasize that if large tech companies utilize Wisconsin's resources, they should bear the full cost.