LETTER: Pass legislation to limit data center environment impact

To Ozaukee Press:

The data centers to be built in Port Washington, Mount Pleasant and Beaver Dam pose multiple threats to our water, wildlife and wallets. 

The centers will require vast amounts of water to cool their equipment. Currently, 70% of the water consumed each year in Wisconsin goes to electric power generation, and this adds to the millions of gallons these centers will need on peak days.

The massive energy infrastructure required to build and operate the data centers is expensive and threatens to burden customers for years. Also, at a time when the impacts of climate change make it clear that we should be transitioning to clean renewable energy sources, utility companies are using data centers as justification for building new fossil gas power plants, thereby keeping us from achieving the zero-emissions future that we so desperately need.

The Data Center Accountability Act, bill SB729, was introduced recently in the Wisconsin Legislature. The bill stipulates that data center must: meet labor standards and use at least 70% renewable energy; be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified; and pay an annual fee that funds renewable energy, energy efficiency and a low-income

energy assistance program.

We all can take action to prevent the worst impacts from data centers by asking our senators and representatives to vote for SB729. To find your legislators go to https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Elected-Officials.

Jenny Abel

Wauwatosa