GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin: Western Wisconsin residents demand end to data center tax exemption co-authored by Rep. Shannon Zimmerman

100+ western Wisconsin residents gathered at “No Blank Checks for Big Tech” in River Falls on Wednesday

River Falls, Wis.. —  More than one hundred residents from across western Wisconsin gathered at Veterans Park in River Falls Wednesday evening to demand an end to Wisconsin’s state sales-and-use-tax exemption for qualified data centers and for statewide transparency, accountability and protections around hyperscale data center development. 

At the No Blank Checks for Big Tech rally and press conference, residents and members of GROWW (GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin) challenged Rep. Shannon Zimmerman on his pro-data center record.

In 2023, Rep. Zimmerman co-authored the legislation that led to the creation of the state-sales tax-exemption for trillion-dollar data center companies such as Microsoft and Meta. The exemption was ultimately enacted through the 2023–25 state budget as 2023 Wisconsin Act 19.

In 2025, Zimmerman doubled down on the exemption, again co-authoring legislation proposing to modify and expand the existing tax incentives.

The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has estimated that more than $2 billion in tax incentives have been given to corporations building data centers in Wisconsin communities.

Residents connected the data center fight to a broader question facing communities across Wisconsin: whether decisions about public money, natural resources and new technology will be shaped by regular people or wealthy corporations.

“I’m here because of my nine grandchildren,” said Wendy DiPeso, a resident of Assembly District 30 and member of GROWW (GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin). “I think of them when I think of the future we’re building, and the power regular people have to shape it.”

DiPeso described residents’ experiences with secrecy surrounding proposed data center developments in Menomonie and Port Washington.

“People deserve to know who is proposing these projects and what they will demand of our land, water and power before decisions are made,” DiPeso said. “If corporations receive enormous public benefits, the public deserves a say.”

The exemption, enacted as part of the 2023–25 state budget, applies to qualifying purchases associated with data center construction and operation, including server and networking equipment, construction materials, cooling systems and electricity. Projects must be certified by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

Speakers at Wednesday’s action maintained that Wisconsin’s current policies do not provide the level of public disclosure, corporate accountability and enforceable community protections residents are seeking.

Danny Akenson, a GROWW organizer and constituent of Clint Moses in Assembly District 92, pointed to Menomonie as evidence of what organized residents can accomplish. Hundreds of community members mobilized after learning about a proposed 320-acre, $1.6 billion data center development, packing public meetings and organizing for a pause on new data center approvals.

“We know that local moratoriums and local ordinances are not enough,” Akenson said. “We need full transparency, accountability and protections from data centers all across the state of Wisconsin. It’s time to say no to secret NDAs with Big Tech corporations. It’s time to protect our natural resources and our communities.”

Wednesday’s speakers also emphasized that their concerns extend beyond the physical infrastructure required by data centers to the effects of rapidly developing technology on children, education and human connection.

“Technology does have the power to help our communities and make everyday life better for people,” said Taylor Stevens-Nudd, a teacher in River Falls. “However, our elected officials and people developing these technologies must be held accountable. Lawmakers should not promise decades of tax exemptions and support the enormous growth of these industries without calculating the full public cost.”

The action marked the public launch of GROWW’s fall voter-turnout campaign. Members pledged to knock on doors and organize voters across western Wisconsin in support of GROWW’s Wisconsin People’s Agenda, including data center safeguards, affordable healthcare, strong public schools and corporate accountability.

GROWW members have voted to work to elect Kevin Knoke in Assembly District 30, Jeremiah Frederickson in Assembly District 92 and Sen. Jeff Smith in Senate District 31. Members intend to continue organizing after November to pass the Wisconsin People’s Agenda in 2027.

“Regular people in Wisconsin are building the power to elect leaders who will work with and for regular people and pass our Wisconsin People’s Agenda in 2027, including transparency, accountability and protections around data centers,” DiPeso said.