Port Washington is set to break ground on an AI data center project, but residents are trying to fight back
Port Washington residents voiced their concerns on Tuesday over the impending construction of an AI data center. Here’s what you need to know.
During a public meeting held on October 7, residents of Port Washington expressed concerns over an $8 billion artificial intelligence (AI) data center project slated to begin construction in the upcoming weeks. It was officially announced back in January, and the recent influx in pushback is causing friction between residents, the town’s mayor, and those who have opposed the project from its inception.
Over 200 people showed up for Tuesday’s meeting, many of whom criticized the energy needs tied to the project, including the addition of over 100 miles of transmission lines that will likely have a tremendous impact on the environment. Caleb Tydrick has been in opposition to the construction of the AI data center since it was first announced, and he addressed the crowd on Tuesday by asking, “Where were you months ago with the other annexations and approvals?” He added, “I wish things were different,” and if the hundreds of people who showed up for the most recent meeting had been committed to the cause along with Tydrick back in January, they might be. The hope, though, is that there’s still time to implement change.
Jose Gromacki, a Fredonia resident and attorney, spoke about how the new transmission lines would dissect wetlands, farmland, rural countrysides, watersheds, historic areas, forests, and Indigenous areas of national importance, including burial sites. A resident of Port Washington, Tim Klein, said he was also concerned about the environmental impact of the AI data center, stating, “The destruction of the land of the north, the complete change of the landscape,” is an overwhelming prospect to face. He added, “I mean, change is inevitable, right? It’s going to happen, but not in this capacity.”
Alyssa Laabs, a resident of Fredonia, said the issues aren’t solely tied to the environmental impacts alone. She mentioned that the project would increase utility costs for locals, and noted to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she, along with others, don’t intend to stop fighting “until the data center is blocked from being built.” Laabs said she’s already planning on voicing her concerns to the Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission.
The major caveat here is that the city’s council unanimously approved the development agreement with Vantage, the Denver-based campus operator, on August 19.
Mayor Ted Neitzke emphasized that the project is already underway and will benefit the local economy
Port Washington’s mayor, Ted Neitzke, also spoke at Tuesday’s meeting. He reiterated to the hundreds of people gathered there that Vantage already has plans to break ground within six to eight weeks to complete the first phase of its project. Four separate data centers will be built and fully operational by 2027, but construction would continue until the end of 2028. Mayor Neitzke told the crowd, “There is no action tonight that would start or stop this project,” and he proved to be right for the time being. The only action that was taken was to annex and rezone approximately 400 acres of land previously allotted to the project; Vantage now has a total of around 1,700 acres of annexed land to build on.
Mayor Neitzke tried to pacify the community’s displeasure with the agreement by stating that the AI data centers would increase the value of Port Washington by around $120 million. He noted that it will likely also create about $11.6 billion in revenue for all of Ozaukee County’s industries. “This will not only sustain our community, but it will grow and allow our existing businesses to ensure they have a future,” Mayor Neitzke said. “We’re in the middle of a technology revolution. We had the option, and Port Washington has chosen to participate in that to support our community.”
Vantage’s vice president of new site development in North America, Tracye Herrington, told the crowd that the project is set to create 300 permanent jobs after the campus becomes fully operational, and that it’ll create around 4,000 temporary jobs during its construction. The news seems to be doing little to persuade residents, but Mayor Neitzke remains firm on the decision that was unanimously made back in August, noting that the community is currently in financial crisis and cannot continue to survive on seasonal tourism alone.
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