Wisconsin and Kentucky Residents Mobilize Against Data Center Development
Grassroots movements in Wisconsin and Kentucky are pushing for moratoriums and opposing hyperscale data centers over concerns regarding farmland, utility costs, and government transparency.
Bipartisan opposition to data center development has sparked grassroots mobilization across Wisconsin and Kentucky. In Wisconsin, a Marquette Law School Poll found that 74% of voters believe the costs of these facilities outweigh the benefits. This sentiment has led municipalities such as Superior and Bayfield County to implement moratoriums on new developments.
In Wisconsin Rapids, Kaitlyn Federwitz and the group South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development are fighting a proposal from Kereta Api Indonesia to build a data center on a former paper mill site. Mayor Matt Zacher has warned that the debate has the potential to divide the local community. Similarly, in Kentucky, the nonprofit We Are Mercer County is opposing a hyperscale data center near Burgin, with organizer Dana Hanson stating the conflict has evolved into a broader issue of transparency and accountability regarding how elected officials treat their constituents.
While the issue has surfaced in the Wisconsin gubernatorial race and Kentucky's 6th Congressional District, polling indicates it remains a secondary priority for the general electorate behind immigration and the cost of living. Some political candidates have aligned with President Donald Trump's view that the industry is necessary to win the AI race, while others face criticism for financial ties to developers. In Kentucky, State Representative Savannah Maddox has criticized top-down advocacy for the industry, arguing against a propaganda-style approach to pushing data centers on residents.
