Wisconsin Lawmakers Seek Ban on Data Center NDAs
Wisconsin lawmakers are pursuing a bill to ban non-disclosure agreements for data center projects as public opposition to these facilities reaches 70 percent.
Opposition to large-scale data centers in Wisconsin has risen to 70 percent of registered voters, according to a Marquette Law School poll conducted in February. This marks an increase from 55 percent in October, with the shift driven largely by Democrats and independents who believe the costs of such facilities outweigh the benefits.
Wisconsin lawmakers are responding to this public sentiment by pursuing a bill to ban non-disclosure agreements for data center projects. The proposed legislation follows a period of significant state incentives, including a sales tax exemption that cost the state $70 million in revenue over two years and expanded tax increment financing to limit local property tax collections. These exemptions have already been certified for projects in Mount Pleasant, Verona, Beaver Dam, and Port Washington.
The Data Center Coalition opposes the ban on non-disclosure agreements. The industry group argues that the legislation would put the state at a competitive disadvantage when attempting to attract new data center projects.
