MADISON, Wis. (WRN / WJMC) — There’s an effort to put a pause on all data center construction in Wisconsin.
Clean Wisconsin has gathered 1200 signatures since last Wednesday calling for legislators to stop approval of data center projects until stricter standards on energy and water use are put in place.
The group points out that two of the data centers that have been already approved will use more power than every single residential customer combined. There has been widespread community pushback against the centers, and Microsoft has already dropped plans to build a facility near Caledonia.
A plan to build another center in DeForest has a tech company asking the city to annex land away from a neighboring town after community protests prevented a transfer of property.
Earlier this year, plans for a data center in Menomonie were paused, after the city declined to approve the project following opposition from area residents.