Groups sue Wisconsin DNR over environmental review of Port Washington data centers

Environmental groups, led by Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA) on behalf of Sierra Club Wisconsin, have filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Ozaukee County Circuit Court. The groups allege the DNR illegally reversed its decision to conduct a full environmental impact statement (EIS) for a $15 billion data center campus being developed by Vantage Data Centers in Port Washington for tech companies Oracle and OpenAI. The lawsuit challenges the DNR's June 12 issuance of permits for the project without the more thorough environmental review.

Internal emails obtained through a public records request indicate that DNR attorney Molly McNab initially informed Vantage in July 2025 that an EIS would be required. Andrew Stewart, Vantage's director of senior corporate counsel, responded with internal "panicking" over the requirement. A Vantage official later texted Port Washington Mayor Ted Neitzke about the Governor's office inquiring why an EIS would "kill the project." Elizabeth Ward, director of Sierra Club Wisconsin, expressed deep concern over the DNR's reversal, stating that EIS are crucial for understanding a project's impact on air, water, land, and climate, especially for a project of this scale.

Vantage Data Centers, though not a party to this specific lawsuit, stated its confidence in the "rigorous process" that informed the permitting decisions and affirmed its commitment to responsible development. Environmental groups and residents have raised significant concerns about the Lighthouse campus project, which spans 672 acres and is projected to require 1.3 gigawatts of energy initially, potentially increasing to 3.5 gigawatts. They highlight the project's potential to spur the construction of new gas-fired power plants, contribute to increased electricity demand as noted by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and cause issues like traffic, noise, air pollution from backup diesel generators, and the filling of 4.7 acres of wetlands. Notably, Oracle is separately suing the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin over its financial requirements for data centers.