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Proposal by GOP Would Set Standards
Republicans propose bills to ensure data centers pay their own way and protect local control, requiring on-site renewable energy and water recycling, amid six active projects statewide.
- On Monday, Jan 12, 2026 Assembly Republicans unveiled a plan to regulate data centers, addressing land, water and power concerns in Franklin with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos joining co-sponsors.
- Port Washington residents pushed back by packing meetings and filing petitions as three were arrested, and Great Lakes Neighbors United filed a recall petition on Dec. 16 over the $15B Port Washington data center project.
- The proposed text requires on-site renewables, closed-loop cooling, annual water reporting to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and Public Service Commission rules to prevent cost shifts to residential customers, Representative Robert Witke said.
- Local municipalities would retain final approval under the plan, which is in the Committee on State Affairs and must pass the State Assembly before moving to the State Senate.
- PSC decisions in spring 2026 will shape power-line routes tied to projects, while Microsoft's Mount Pleasant campus and the Port Washington project aim for completion by 2028.
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13 Articles
WisconsinWatch.orgReposted by 
Racine County Eye
Racine County EyeData center boom follows decades of declining electricity and water use in Wisconsin
Reading Time: 3 minutes Anticipated spikes in demand for energy to supply Wisconsin’s data center building boom come on the heels of decades of declining power and water use, according to a new report. A Wisconsin Policy Forum analysis shows there are more than 40 data centers operating in Wisconsin with another four planned. The sprawling facilities host computer servers, which store data and support a global surge in the use of artificial inte…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution90% Center
Bias Distribution
- 90% of the sources are Center
90% Center
C 90%
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