As AI Data Centers are being built in Wisconsin, one group told Manitowoc County residents it might not be for their community.
Environmental Attorney Jodi Labs and Software Expert Prescott Blach held an information session for the towns of Mishicot, Gibson, Two Rivers, and Two Creeks last night to discuss a proposed data center at the Grey Fox Bar and Grill in Mishicot.
The evening was kicked off by Wisconsin Comedian Charlie Berens, who told Seehafernews.com that he’s seen how cities have passed AI Data Center legislation, and that it doesn’t seem fair to residents.
“We as people are already paying with our data,” he noted. “But now on top of it they want our land and our water and our power. And power bills have also gone up everywhere and there’s been a data center across the US. So, I’m seeing this imbalance.”
Blach spoke about how AI data centers appear in communities and how, to him, they seem like a great idea at first.
But Blach then told the community that the data centers are being built as quickly as possible to help tech giants like Meta.
“They are trying to save their business, and they are going to do what the math tells them to do,” he explained. “And right now the math is telling them we need a ton of data center capacity because of artificial intelligence (AI) and plus how expensive it is today.”
He also told residents that the AI data center building is just for data alone and doesn’t do much else.
He told the crowd, “They have very low ceilings, they have no windows, and they have a crap ton of power, and that’s about it.”
Blach did highlight some positives, including that the data centers will bring in significant tax revenue, but says it will cost the towns more money in the long run.
He also said that AI Data Centers will bring in jobs.
While that could be true during construction, once they’re built, most employees are janitors and security guards, watching and cleaning the buildings while they store data. After his presentation, Labs took the mic to discuss the environmental risks that AI data centers can pose.
She first stated that while she is not completely against a data center, it doesn’t mean they are right everywhere, specifically in rural Wisconsin.
She said the centers will use a lot of water and fossil fuels to keep them running.
“So we’re going to have electricity from these facilities that will create health issues,” she stated. “You’re going to have your continued increase of asthma, cardiovascular issues, and other issues.”
Labs then explained what residents can do to discourage their elected officials from voting on a data center and stop what’s happening in places like Mount Pleasant and Port Washington.
In the second part of this story, we’ll hear from residents who asked questions about the topic and what a local state senator says is happening in Madison to try to regulate the AI Data Centers.
