Let’s Look Into Data Centers
This letter to the editor, by Liz Malanaphy, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on August 27, 2026.
The jury is still out on data centers in Wisconsin and across the U.S. As local communities try to make decisions about these projects, only one thing is really certain. We absolutely need to allow time to do proper research on exactly what and how hyperscale data centers could affect us all.
Our St. Croix County board will be voting on a 12-month moratorium on data centers, at their Sept. 1 meeting. Please email your county district supervisor, the county board and your city council, this week, if you would like to see our communities proceeding with due caution on this contentious issue.
There are many resources on the pros and cons, and we can look around Wisconsin for the right (and wrong) way to do this. Cautionary tales abound; the desire to bring revenue and jobs into communities has often resulted in zero local control, disappointingly low revenue and only a temporary employment spike.
https://www.widatacenterfacts.org/topics
Data companies have been known to cloak their process in false names and NDA’s as they purchase property. “Trade secrets” regarding water usage and disposal of cooling sludge further obscure what the local effects might be. Any industry or business that relies on hiding things is likely a questionable neighbor.
Much we’ve heard about hyperscale projects is the push and pull of economics and environment. We do know that they use disproportionate amounts of water and energy; up to 5 million gallons of water per day (the equivalent of 20,000 to 50,000 additional citizens), and comparable appetites for energy. Do the communities they are in benefit proportionately, economically or is most of that benefit reserved for the corporate giants who are collecting our data?
https://www.eesi.org/ articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption.
To adequately explore impacts, actions and consequences, we need time. I encourage our trusted elected officials to put a temporary (year) moratorium on data centers, and convene a study group to thoroughly explore our options. There are many invested citizens who are willing to help.