Wisconsin residents split on PSC's Meta data center ruling: 'Promising' or 'too late' for transparency

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved a contract between tech giant Meta and utility provider Alliant Energy, intended for a data center project in the state. The approval came after the PSC revised some of the contract's language, a move that elicited mixed reactions from community members across Wisconsin. Sarah Zarling, a community organizer from Jefferson County, expressed optimism, viewing the PSC's revisions as a sign that public input was acknowledged and considered. She noted that the commission's attention to specific public comments was encouraging for future engagement processes. However, Melodie Betts, a resident of Grant County, remained unconvinced, stating that she had lost trust in the PSC and questioned the need for additional electricity, implying concerns about the data center's energy consumption. PSC Chairperson Summer Strand publicly acknowledged the lack of transparency in such deals, warning that secrecy erodes public trust and fuels opposition and misinformation. Meta, in response to cost concerns, affirmed that it covers the full energy costs for its data centers, ensuring consumers are not burdened. The language changes in this contract are expected to influence future data center development within Wisconsin.