Village of Wrightstown voters say 'no' to data center development
Voters in the Village of Wrightstown, Wisconsin, rejected an advisory referendum on data center development, expressing strong opposition to the projects. The community voiced concerns about large-scale construction, and residents hope the Village Board will respect their decision despite the non-binding nature of the vote.
Voters in the Village of Wrightstown, Wisconsin, overwhelmingly rejected a referendum question concerning large-scale data center development within or affecting the village. The advisory ballot initiative, held on Tuesday, saw a majority of residents vote 'no', signaling strong community opposition to such projects. Reporter Claire Peterson of NBC26 highlighted that the village has been at the forefront of the data center debate, with several public meetings held on potential development.
During these discussions, top executives from AI data center developer Cloverleaf attended a meeting in May to address community questions and concerns. Public sentiment at these meetings, as well as on Election Day, demonstrated a clear desire to protect the local area from extensive construction and preserve its rural character.
While the referendum is advisory and does not legally bind the Village Board to any specific action, residents expressed hope that their voices would be heard and respected. Many voters stated that the data center referendum was their primary motivation for participating in the primary election, emphasizing their commitment to protecting the future of their community. Residents indicated that if the Village Board does not heed the voters' decision, they would seek changes within the board.