Small Swing State Town Rebukes Trump-Backed Project In Stunning Vote — With Famous Comedian's Support

Voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, overwhelmingly passed a first-in-the-nation ballot measure on Tuesday to regulate artificial intelligence data centers, particularly focusing on tax incentives for large-scale projects. The referendum, which passed with 66% of the vote, mandates public approval for substantial tax incentives offered to developers of future multi-million or billion-dollar facilities. The initiative was a direct response to a planned $15 billion data center campus in the city, supported by President Donald Trump and developed by OpenAI, Oracle, and Vantage. This project, part of the larger Stargate initiative, is slated to feature four data centers providing close to a gigawatt of AI capacity, with construction expected to begin soon and completion by 2028. The successful ballot measure was spearheaded by local residents organized under Great Lakes Neighbors United, co-founded by Carri Prom. The group, while stating they are not anti-development or anti-tech, advocates for responsible development. The effort gained significant attention and support from Wisconsin-born comedian Charlie Berens, who spoke at a town hall event, criticizing the lack of regulation for AI facilities. Brad Tietz, state policy director for the Data Center Coalition, expressed concerns about the precedent set by the ballot measure, suggesting it could have significant consequences for economic competitiveness and national security if the trend continues. However, for Port Washington residents, the vote marks a victory in their efforts to ensure community input on major development projects.