Community Conversations | Why I'm Concerned About Irresponsible Data Centers

Innovation Needs Guardrails

When people hear me speak about data centers, they sometimes assume I'm against technology, growth, or the construction industry.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

I'm an FAA-certified drone pilot. Technology is part of my everyday life. I believe innovation has made our communities stronger, our businesses more efficient, and our lives better. From agriculture and healthcare to emergency services and education, technology continues to open doors that didn't exist a generation ago.

The question isn't whether we should embrace technology.

The question is whether we can embrace it responsibly.

Not Every Data Center Is the Same

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that every data center is the same.

They're not.

A "data center" could be something as small as a server room inside a local school or hospital. It could also be a modest commercial facility serving businesses in our community.

Or...

It could be a hyperscale data center covering hundreds of thousands of square feet and consuming enormous amounts of electricity and water.

Those are completely different projects, yet they're often discussed as though they're identical.

That's why I oppose irresponsible data centers.

My Family Builds Wisconsin

This conversation is personal for me. My father-in-law has spent nearly 30 years as a union ironworker. My husband works in construction too. And our family owns a roofing company.

Our family understands the value of building things that improve our communities.

Whether it's a school...

A Target...

A Hospital...

An apartment building...

Or a Habitat for Humanity home...

Construction creates jobs, strengthens local economies, and leaves behind something our communities continue to use for decades.

The argument I hear most often in favor of massive hyperscale data centers is that they'll create construction jobs.

They're right.

But so does every major construction project.

The difference is what happens after the ribbon cutting.

Once many hyperscale data centers are complete, they often require relatively few permanent employees compared to the amount of land, infrastructure, electricity, and water they consume.

That's a conversation worth having.

Growth Should Benefit the Community

I'm not opposed to development.

If our community builds a new Target or expands a manufacturing facility, I can understand why that might increase demand on our local infrastructure.

Those businesses provide long-term jobs, generate local economic activity, and become part of the fabric of our community. Data centers deserve to be evaluated through that same lens.

• Who benefits?

• Who bears the cost?

• And are local families receiving enough value in return?

  
  

Electricity Matters

One concern that hits close to home is energy demand.

We already have a data center in the outskirts of Menasha.

After speaking with Menasha Utilities and learning more about how large electrical users affect our shared power grid, I became more aware of the questions surrounding electrical demand and who ultimately pays for infrastructure improvements over time.

Like many families, we've watched our household electric bill increase significantly over the last few years.

That experience made me start asking questions. When demand increases...

• Who pays?

• How are those costs distributed?

• What protections exist for homeowners, renters, and small businesses?

Those aren't anti-business questions. They're responsible questions.

Water Is Wisconsin's Greatest Resource

If you grew up in Wisconsin, you probably remember learning about our preservation of lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and groundwater.

I know I do.

Even in fourth-grade Wisconsin history, we were taught that our natural resources are one of our state's greatest treasures.

That's why conversations about industrial water use deserve careful attention.

Some companies are investing in more advanced cooling technologies that reduce dependence on large quantities of water.

Others rely heavily on water-based cooling because it's less expensive upfront.

Communities deserve to understand those differences.

Residents also deserve clear answers about what happens to water after it has been used in cooling systems.

• How is it treated?

• What testing is required before it's returned?

• What safeguards exist to monitor for contaminants, including emerging concerns such as PFAS and microplastics?

These aren't questions we should ask after construction begins.

They're questions we should answer before permits are approved.

Responsible Innovation

One of the builders I've learned about uses closed-loop cooling systems that don't place the same demands on local water supplies or electrical infrastructure.

Those systems cost more.

That's exactly the point.

Responsible innovation often requires greater investment upfront.

If a company chooses the less expensive option because it saves money while shifting long-term costs and environmental risks onto the community, that's not innovation.

That's cutting corners.

Wisconsin Can Lead

I want Wisconsin to continue attracting businesses. I want us to embrace innovation. I want our children growing up in a state known for technology, manufacturing, and opportunity.

But none of that should come at the expense of the families already living here.

Growth shouldn't mean higher utility bills without answers.

It shouldn't place unnecessary pressure on our electrical grid.

It shouldn't put our drinking water or natural resources at unnecessary risk.

And it shouldn't move forward before communities understand exactly what they're agreeing to.

Wisconsin can absolutely lead in technology. But we should also lead in responsibility.

Those two goals are not in conflict.

In fact, I believe they're inseparable.