Future data centers need local approval

The city of Port Washington, Wisconsin, located north of Milwaukee, recently passed a pioneering anti-data center referendum on April 7. This new measure mandates that all future data center projects requiring more than $10 million in tax incentives must first receive approval from local voters. This decision, described as setting an important precedent, empowers residents to have a direct say in significant local development projects. The referendum emerged from widespread community opposition to a large data center campus, named 'Lighthouse,' currently under development in Port Washington. The project, spanning 672 acres and scheduled for completion in 2028, is being developed by Vantage Data Centers in partnership with OpenAI and Oracle, aiming to expand U.S. Artificial Intelligence capacity. It is part of a larger $500 billion national AI initiative. Residents, including those organized under the nonprofit Great Lakes Neighbors United (GLNU), expressed significant concerns over the project's financial and environmental implications, particularly its potential impact on electricity bills and high water consumption. GLNU successfully gathered the necessary signatures to place the data center measure on the city's ballot, leading to its approval by approximately 66% of voters. While the referendum does not impact the 'Lighthouse' project, which is already under construction, it grants the community crucial power over future developments that might seek substantial public funds. The outcome is anticipated to inspire other cities, such as Monterey Park, California, Augusta Township, Michigan, and Janesville, Wisconsin, to consider similar ballot measures to ensure community input on data center projects.