LETTER: ‘Energy hog’ data centers are inflating our electricity bills

To Ozaukee Press:

An ominous trend is emerging in the power sector. You may have noticed your electricity and gas bills are rising and more rate increases are on the table. Why is this so? Look no further than the astonishing growth of data  centers.

Increasingly, utilities are building out more fossil fuel infrastructure to meet the demand (actual or projected) of these energy hogs. The Microsoft campus in Mount Pleasant was projected to be the single largest energy user in 2025 at 450 megawatts; now, the Vantage data center under construction in Port Washington is planning to more than triple that demand, requesting 1.3 gigawatts.

That new energy needs to come from somewhere, and to that end We Energies is

planning to build two gigawatts of natural gas (read: methane) plants to provide it. Natural gas is anything but natural, and local residents will suffer the harms of air and water pollution that these power-generating sources will cause.

We Energies and data centers are coming for Lake Michigan water, Wisconsin land and the air we all share—and for your wallet. We Energies is currently asking the WI Public Service Commission for another double-digit rate increase. The PSC is taking written comments through Sept. 18. Speak out if you think a change is in order.

Amanda Richman

Milwaukee