Data centers have staying power as a Wisconsin election issue

Data centers have emerged as a prominent and influential election issue for Wisconsin voters and political candidates across the state. The rapid increase in proposed data center developments, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence, has generated significant community opposition stemming from concerns about environmental damage, energy and water consumption, and the character of local communities. This growing concern has begun to sway election outcomes, as seen in Port Washington, where voters approved a referendum requiring public approval for developer tax incentives, and in Janesville, where a city council candidate opposing a local data center project won. Polling by Wisconsin Conservation Voters indicates that 53% of respondents oppose data centers in the state, with 93% supporting regulations that would mandate data centers cover their full energy costs and ensure transparency regarding their environmental impacts and development deals. Both Democratic and Republican candidates for governor and the state Legislature have acknowledged the issue, incorporating data center regulations into their platforms, though dueling legislative efforts to regulate developments were unsuccessful in the last session. Trish Boehlke, a leading opponent of a now-halted $12 billion QTS data center project in DeForest, emphasizes the need for statewide regulations, including bans on tax breaks, protection against rising electric rates for residents, and prohibiting non-disclosure agreements in development deals. The DeForest project, planned for 1,600 acres of farmland, was ultimately shelved in January after continuous community pushback, despite the Village Board having rejected a prior referendum attempt by Boehlke's group. Boehlke continues to advocate for voter empowerment over future developments across Wisconsin.