In rural Wisconsin, a town pushes aside a plan to build a massive data center
News ClipMinnPost·Cassville, Grant County, WI·5/1/2026
Residents of Cassville, Wisconsin, have unanimously voted to ban data centers for up to two years, effectively blocking a proposed billion-dollar project. The decision was made due to concerns about environmental impact, property devaluation, and high electricity consumption, compounded by the secrecy surrounding the anonymous developer. This action reflects a growing trend of rural communities pushing back against large tech developments.
moratoriumzoningenvironmentalelectricityoppositiongovernmentwater
Gov: Cassville Town Board, Wisconsin lawmakers, Grant County Economic Development Corp., Clayton County officials
Residents of Cassville, Wisconsin, overwhelmingly voted 44-0 to ban data centers in their town for up to two years, putting a stop to a proposed billion-dollar data center project. The vote, held in the town garage, reflected strong community opposition to what they viewed as an unwelcome incursion by big tech into their rural Driftless area.
The project, spearheaded by an anonymous developer and supported by the Grant County Economic Development Corp.'s executive director Ron Brisbois, offered promises of 50 jobs and over $5.5 million in annual property tax revenue. However, residents, including retiree John Hawn, feared data centers would devalue properties, contaminate wells, and increase electric bills, outweighing the economic benefits. Town Supervisor Scott Riedl expressed frustration over the lack of information regarding the project's location and the company involved.
Cassville's new ordinance specifically prohibits data centers for two years and prevents related land-use changes without town board approval. This move follows similar actions in other Midwestern communities, such as Port Washington, Wisconsin, which passed a referendum requiring voter approval for tax incentives, and Clayton County, Iowa, which is considering zoning restrictions. According to town attorney Eric Hagen, the ordinance aims to make Cassville less appealing to developers seeking low-regulation sites, despite the area's proximity to the new Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line, which could supply the estimated 400-500 megawatts needed.
Brisbois speculated that the developer's current silence might be due to the lack of local tax incentives rather than community unease, questioning if the opposition stems more from data centers' tarnished image than actual environmental and power concerns. The community's decision underscores a broader sentiment in rural areas to protect local qualities against perceived negative impacts of large-scale industrial development.