IN MY OPINION: Data center disruptions are temporary; the benefits to come will be long lasting

As we head into Labor Day weekend, I want to both acknowledge what’s happening on the north side and thank the citizens of Port Washington and the Town of Port Washington. As a lifetime resident of Port, I realize we have been through some significant changes and disruptions in the past year.

My family and I live on the north side, and we are experiencing these disruptions every day on our way to and from work. I acknowledge that the volume of traffic and the disruption to our normally quick and easy entrance and exit out of town on exit 100 has changed significantly.

This is temporary, and this project will greatly benefit Port over the long term. Some of these benefits are already happening: When between 2,500 and 3,000 men and women drive in to work on the site, it means our local small businesses have more customers to serve. Especially on Labor Day weekend, I appreciate that these are largely union jobs that help support families throughout our region and across the state.

This project also is bringing in new visitors from across the country and around the world to discover everything we all love about Port. They are spending money to stay here, eat here and shop here. And, yes, I recognize that having more visitors and activity does create inconveniences for us on occasion when we want to get quick and easy access to our favorite places in Port. I ask Port residents to join me in appreciating what this increased activity means for our local small businesses.

I want to acknowledge that this project has created division within friend groups and families, and I regret that this has happened. However, as this project proceeds, I ask that people maintain a healthy sense of curiosity and submit their questions to us and get the facts instead of relying on social media. Please remember that social media is filled with inaccuracies—some of which happen by mistake and some of which may be intentional.

One example is the greatly exaggerated claims about how much water the data center will use. The fact is that they fill their cooling system up once and continue to reuse the same water over and over, much like the radiator in your car. There are many other examples of bad information that keeps being repeated on social media.

I thank the citizens of Port Washington and the Town of Port Washington for being patient throughout this process. The project is moving at a remarkable pace; yet there will be some more inconveniences, disruption and change.

I also want to thank my fellow Port elected officials, each of whom used their own unique expertise and curiosity to make informed decisions about this project since it was presented as a possibility more than a year and a half ago. The end result is a zoning code and development agreement that contains much, if not all, of the protections currently being discussed by leaders at the state and national levels. It will be worth it for all of us in the long run. When the project is complete, it will create 1,000 new permanent jobs, pay for significant infrastructure improvements that benefit all of us, spend millions with our local small businesses and pay taxes that support our schools and reduce the property tax burden on all of us. Through it all, we will preserve the classic charm that we all love about Port.

I remember back when I was in middle school, the city was divided about our marina. Today, it seems remarkable that the marina could have been controversial at all. It is my sincere hope that one day, we also will look back at this new project and wonder what all the fuss was about.