A Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate says he would protect Wisconsin from tech companies taking over farmland.
Congressman Tom Tiffany stopped at Shiloh Dairy in Brillion yesterday morning on his “Protect Our Farmland” Tour.
In a speech to supporters, he said that, as governor, he would keep massive wind and solar companies and data centers from overrunning farmland.
He then criticized his opponent, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, saying Crowley is “just fine with the subsidies that are paid for these data center Wall Street investors.”
Tiffany added, “I think that’s crazy that we would sell off our farmland and then you get stuck with the bill. That will not happen on my watch. I will end the subsidies for these data centers that David Crowley supports.”
Tiffany claimed that Crowley wants data centers to power themselves with wind and solar power and have battery backups.
The congressman’s campaign says that could amount to up to 100,000 acres of land, then gives an example of how large that is.
“That’s the Cities of Green Bay, Appleton, and Oshkosh, and that’s still not enough land in order to power these data centers,” he explained. “It’s just crazy. We cannot continue on that route.”
He finishes by saying that America’s Dairyland does not become “America’s Data land” before taking some questions. Seehafernews.com asked Tiffany if a data center moratorium, as the one passed in Manitowoc County, should be done at the state level.
He says it should be done through local communities.
“I believe in local control,” he noted. “Let’s make sure that local people have full input. It’s one of the cornerstones of my position is that local people should have a say. They should be able to decide whether these get built.”
During his speech, Tifanny also commented on the need to ensure that governments like China do not purchase land in the U.S.
A bill vetoed by Governor Tony Evers “generally prohibits a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state.”
The congressman says, “I would sign that bill. I will always protect Wisconsin’s farmland.”
Shiloh Dairy Owner Travis Speirs says his farm hasn’t been contacted about data center development, but he’s heard about solar groups reaching out.
Speirs says the dairy farm, which houses over 2,800 cows, is near a transfer station.
“That’s how we end up with some of those opportunities knocking at our door,” he noted. “Which again, we’re all about agriculture and keeping ag land, ag land.”
Crowley’s campaign says he, too, would want communities to decide for themselves whether they should have a data center, but adds that if one says yes, the developer would not be able to sign NDA’s, must provide 100% renewable energy, and “cover 100% of the costs of infrastructure and grid upgrades”, among other ideas.
Tiffany and Crowley will have a debate on October 9th before the November 3rd General Election.
