WI City Passes States First Data Center Referendum

In a significant move, voters in Port Washington, Wisconsin, passed a first-of-its-kind referendum that will require local voter approval for all future large-scale data center projects seeking tax benefits within the city. Unofficial county results indicate that approximately 66 percent of Port Washington voters supported the measure. This decision emerges amidst growing nationwide opposition to data center construction, driven by concerns from local communities regarding rising electricity prices, substantial water usage, and other environmental impacts. The newly approved policy grants residents a direct say in development that could otherwise proceed without their explicit consent.