Unprecedented corporate power is threatening Wisconsin communities, and we must act

BLACK EARTH, WIS. – Today, the progressive candidate for Wisconsin State Treasurer, Dylan Helmenstine, joined the calls for a one-year moratorium on new AI data center developments. During that year, Wisconsin must pass and implement laws that address public accountability, environmental safety, union labor provisions, and community benefit requirements to protect our communities from this unprecedented corporate pressure and influence.

“It is clear that the people of Wisconsin do not believe that our laws are doing enough to protect the public and our natural resources from data center developments. The abuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to hide information about data center developments has been especially shocking and insulting to Wisconsinites,” said Dylan Helmenstine. “We deserve to have a real say in the future of our own communities. Until we have strong regulations on the books, we cannot allow new, unchecked AI data center construction.”

A rapidly growing list of Wisconsin municipalities and counties, including communities across rural Wisconsin, are implementing data center moratoriums. As a local elected leader from rural Wisconsin, Helmenstine knows that we cannot ignore the calls for greater transparency and accountability. Local leaders, especially those in rural communities on the front lines of this debate, are standing up to pause new data center developments until Wisconsinites have answers.

“Whether it is conversations on the campaign trail, massive attendance at zoning meetings, or surveys of impacted communities, Wisconsinites have spoken,” said Dylan Helmenstine. “Leaders across our state must listen as we continue to work to create a Wisconsin that puts residents and families before corporate power and profits.”

Helmenstine has focused his campaign on using Public Power for the Public Good. As State Treasurer, he will work to improve government transparency, accountability, and accessibility to return power to Wisconsin residents. Enacting a one-year data center moratorium is a necessary step towards these goals and will protect the public from further abuses, give the state time to fix existing NDA loopholes, and pass regulations to strengthen community protections.

The Wisconsin State Treasurer primary election will take place on August 11, 2026, and the general election is on November 3, 2026. Learn more about Dylan and his campaign at: https://www.dylanforwi.com/