Towns unite to fight data center power lines

The towns of Fredonia and Farmington approved a resolution opposing high-voltage power lines being constructed through their communities, and the towns of Saukville and Trenton were expected to do the same this week.

American Transmission Co. has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to construct substations and high-voltage lines to power the proposed data center in Port Washington.

While towns understand there isn’t much they can do to stop the project or its need for more power, they hope the resolution helps convince ATC and the PSC to select the existing route rather than one of ATC’s two preferred routes that would cut through portions of their towns. The PSC has final say on the route.

The municipalities worked together to develop a resolution, even meeting with a representative from Vantage Data Centers, the Colorado company constructing the data center on the north side of Port Washington that could be one of the biggest in the country.

“I think ATC’s actions have been horrible, and it’s coming to light,” Saukville Town Chairman Kevin Kimmes said.

“We’re trying to be a long-term planner in the community, not someone who comes in and bullies people around.”

Kimmes said the town has tried to discuss the issue with ATC but hasn’t had much contact with the company.

Fredonia Town Chairman Jack Janik said he hopes the joint resolution provides a united front.

“The resolution is us joining up with these other towns saying that we’re not completely against what you’re doing there, but we believe that you can use this alternate route as opposed to going through a lot of sensitive protected areas,” he said at the Nov. 12 Town Board meeting.

He knows the resolution doesn’t carry any authority.

“The resolution has no real heft to it. It’s just towns saying we’d rather see them over there, and it’s a much better look for Vantage if you put them over there, especially when Vantage is going through a marketing plan to try and promote themselves as not being detrimental to the environment and a good neighbor to have this wonderful campus. That kind of all goes against the idea of ripping down a bunch of trees and wetlands,” he said.

“It’s still unknown if it’s all going to make a difference to ATC.”

ATC’s application shows two routes for the power lines in Ozaukee County, with the preferred route going primarily through the Town of Saukville and a secondary route primarily through the Town of Fredonia.

The project requires power lines and substations to be installed in parts of Calumet, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Ozaukee and Washington counties.

The project is estimated to cost between $1.4 and $1.6 billion, depending on the routes the power lines take, with construction estimated to begin in May 2026 and be completed by December 2027, according to the application.

The Protect Fredonia Coalition, a grassroots organization of town residents opposed to the power lines, is urging residents to be prepared to launch a letter-writing campaign when the PSC opens its comment period.

“The coalition of private citizens working on this are doing a wonderful job and working extremely hard. The effort going into it is remarkable,” Janik said.

Fredonia’s resolution passed 4-0 with John Depies abstaining. Depies said the existing power line route runs a half mile through his farm and he wanted to avoid any conflict of interest.

The resolution calls for copies to be sent to ATC, the PSC, Vantage, Oracle and OpenAI — the company that will use the data center — the Ozaukee County Board, state representatives and senators and the governor.