Zimmerman vs. Knoke: Data centers, affordability highlight Assembly District 30 forum
Candidates Shannon Zimmerman and Kevin Knoke debated Wisconsin data center policy at an Assembly District 30 forum in Hudson. Knoke criticized the state’s data center sales-tax exemption and called for stronger environmental and ratepayer protections, while Zimmerman defended legislation he said would provide those safeguards.
Republican state Rep. Shannon Zimmerman and Democratic challenger Kevin Knoke discussed data centers during an Assembly District 30 candidate forum in Hudson. Knoke, who attended a recent protest in River Falls, said he would revoke the state’s roughly $2 billion data center and data-company tax break and argued that large technology companies should not receive additional incentives.
Knoke also called for protections against environmental impacts and higher utility costs for ratepayers as companies propose data centers across Wisconsin. Zimmerman defended his record, saying he authored AB 840, legislation that would have established the protections Knoke described, though the article does not indicate that the measure became law.