Amid Data Center Attack Ads, Crowley Balances Union Support, Public Opinion
The Wisconsin gubernatorial race is seeing data center development emerge as a key election issue. Democratic nominee David Crowley is navigating union support for data center jobs against public concerns regarding environmental impact and infrastructure, while Republican nominee Tom Tiffany criticizes state subsidies and raises concerns about farmland and water use. Both candidates are proposing regulations or changes to data center policy.
The Wisconsin gubernatorial election has made data center development a central and contentious issue between Democratic nominee David Crowley, the Milwaukee County Executive, and Republican nominee Tom Tiffany. Tiffany's campaign has launched attack ads accusing Crowley of being influenced by "data center special interests," specifically referencing campaign donations from building trades unions that support data center construction for job creation.
Crowley's platform emphasizes pro-union building trades, and he receives significant financial backing from unions like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association, which view data center projects as a source of high-paying skilled labor. However, Crowley is also attempting to balance this support with public opinion, advocating for local community control over data center projects and calling for regulations requiring technology companies to cover infrastructure costs, use renewable energy, and utilize union labor.
Conversely, Tiffany has taken an opposing stance, calling for an end to state subsidies for data centers. He cites concerns about their impact on farmland conversion, rising utility bills, and water resources. This position places him at odds with former President Donald Trump, who has championed data centers for job creation and tax revenue. The political debate also highlights broader skepticism from some labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, which passed a resolution calling for technology companies to pay commensurate energy and water costs.
Wisconsin State Representative Francesca Hong, D-Madison, and Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, have both called for a moratorium on data center construction to allow for the implementation of regulations. The article concludes that Crowley faces the challenge of "threading that needle," satisfying union supporters while addressing the environmental and community concerns that resonate with a significant portion of the electorate, in a state known for its polarized political landscape.