3 ways Wisconsinites can get involved as data centers try to creep into their communities

By Lucas Henkel

January 30, 2026

As more data centers flood Wisconsin, local community organizations are working together to empower residents looking to protect their communities.

Nearly 50 data centers are scattered throughout Wisconsin. They’re power hungry, use enormous amounts of water, and have been taking over large swaths of land from local farmers. So it’s perhaps unsurprising that a vast majority of Wisconsinites don’t want them in their backyards.

With the odds seeming ever against locals, environmental organizers are working hard to remind Wisconsin residents that, if they stand together, communities across the Badger State can minimize the harm that comes from data center development.

“Local engagement is one of the most powerful tools we have to ensure data center development is responsible, transparent, and protective of community needs,” wrote organizers with the Sierra Club, Midwest Environmental Advocates, Healthy Climate Wisconsin, and Wisconsin’s Greenfire in their newest community action guide, which outlines what data centers are, how they impact communities in Wisconsin, and ways Wisconsinites can get involved in the fight.

Whether you’re looking to get involved from your couch or the courtroom, here are a few ways the groups suggest you can use your voice to create a Wisconsin worth living in.

Get involved in local planning meetings

In Wisconsin, data centers are regulated under a patchwork of laws and regulations that predate the AI boom. This means that data centers, as well as the infrastructure that supports them, are required to obtain several state permits, like air and public wetland permits, assess environmental impacts, and receive approval and permission from state agencies.

Among these state agencies is the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates utilities, including electricity, gas, and water. In Wisconsin, customers do not choose their utility provider. Instead, the PSC is tasked with ensuring that utilities provide safe, reliable service at fair and reasonable rates.

When utilities request major changes—such as building a new power plant, changing rates, or altering how customers are charged—the PSC reviews those requests through formal proceedings, allowing them to oversee data center development as well.

Wisconsinites can follow any case by accessing its case file through the PSC’s online database to view all documents, events, and filing details for specific cases. Wisconsinites can also sign up to receive e-mails whenever a document is filed in a particular case, or view the schedule of open commission meetings, public hearings, filing deadlines, and open comment periods through the PSC’s website.

Organize your neighborhood

A well-organized community can create lasting change—but where do you start?

Wisconsinites are already talking to their friends, neighbors, and coworkers about how hyperscale data centers will impact their lives. Use that momentum to build a team that can start collecting information about future development—find out what’s happening, who’s responsible, and where and when the public can participate.

After receiving the details, set a goal and make a plan. Whether you’re trying to stop a permit, asking for stronger safeguards, or raising awareness of a specific development, work with your team to decide what you want to achieve and outline the steps to make it happen. Then hold a community meeting to explain the issue, share your goals, and offer different ways for people to get involved.

Ask volunteers to take on small, doable tasks like talking to more neighbors, making flyers, posting on social media, or watching the permitting docket—the more people know what’s happening, the quicker your community becomes informed.

Whether you have only a handful of people or your whole community, there is power in numbers. Consider attending hearings, submitting comments, and meeting with decision-makers as a group.

Keep the conversation going—elected leaders are listening

As Wisconsinites continue to vocalize their concerns surrounding data centers and impacts on their communities, more of the state’s local elected officials are working to pass legislation to regulate them.

“If we’re going to give public money to a private company, the public should get something significant in exchange,” said Rep. Angela Stroud (D-Ashland), who proposed a bill last year that would require a statewide framework for data center construction in Wisconsin.

Under the legislation, the state would also collect an annual fee from large energy customers based on their peak energy demand. The money collected would be split between a fund supporting energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-income energy assistance, as well as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s Green Innovation fund.

“With the right regulatory environment, we can protect the public and take advantage of this moment to help restructure our energy grid in a way that will help bring down costs for customers as we bring down our renewables,” said Rep. Stroud.

Author

Lucas Henkel

Lucas Henkel is a Reporter & Strategic Communications Producer for COURIER based in mid-Michigan, covering community stories and public policies across the country. His award-winning work shows his passion for local storytelling and amplifying issues that matter to communities nationwide.

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