09/29/2026
Data centers can deliver multi-billion-dollar investments and large numbers of jobs to Wisconsin communities. But key issues around their development remain unresolved, including how to ensure residents are spared increases to transmission rates or property taxes.
In particular, the massive build-out of new power generation in response to AI data centers raises the question of who will foot the bill, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted in its coverage of our report (see comments for story link.)
“Electricity arguably represents the single biggest challenge for large data centers – and the single biggest issue for policymakers," our report finds.
In considering data center proposals, elected officials have a difficult balance to strike. An August poll by the Marquette University Law School found that 78% of registered voters in Wisconsin felt the costs of large data centers outweigh their benefits, while only 21% felt their benefits outweighed their costs.
Some Wisconsin communities have recently blocked construction of large data centers, either by rejecting a specific proposal or approving a blanket moratorium. Local officials may have leverage with developers since there is a credible risk that these proposals will be rejected.
In response to some of the issues highlighted in our report, we offer a menu of options for state and local policymakers to consider. Click the link in the comments to read the report and learn more.
