Wisconsin is facing a proliferation of hyper-scale data center proposals across the state, but the public health and environmental protections are minimal. Each project comes with significant impacts on our water, energy systems, and air quality. Air quality and, thus, public health are negatively impacted directly by the pollution from the large, back-up diesel generators as they run for monthly maintenance and during brown-outs and black-outs, as well as indirectly by the pollution from the expanding fossil fuel-dependent energy generation. Numerous coal and methane gas plants are either being kept online longer or newly built to meet the ballooning energy demand of data centers, and it is the public that suffers the health consequences.
Transparency is another concern when appreciating all environmental justice concerns surrounding these projects. Unfortunately, many of these deals move forward with minimal transparency and oversight, leaving the short and long-term impacts on health and climate uncertain and ominous.
We must prioritize the health and safety of our communities with all hyper-scale data center developments in Wisconsin. Without swift action at the state level, safety cannot be guaranteed. Join us in sending a message to our State Legislators, calling for immediate legislative action, prioritizing public health, transparency, and the environment over corporate profits.