Madison, Wis. – Tuesday, Republicans brought a Data Center Bill to the floor of the assembly. Their bill was rushed through committee and poorly constructed. They did not reach out to the people this bill would affect and even put a “poison pill” in the bill which would cripple Wisconsin’s renewable energy efforts.
Representative McCarville offered the following statement:
“I know that Wisconsin wants us to take action on data centers but this bill would not protect us from higher utility rates, climate change, or the data centers using out of state labor.
That is why I co-sponsored legislation that would actually put in the regulatory framework to protect the people of Wisconsin from predatory data center practices.
SB 729 improves transparency and accountability on energy and water use, safeguards Wisconsin’s water resources, requires prevailing wage rates for workers, protects rate payers by classifying data centers in their own category to be charged an annual fee which will promote clean energy and other public benefit programs.
Data centers cannot lead to higher energy prices for all of us, if data corporations use large amounts of power, they need to pay for it. Wisconsinites deserve common sense legislation that protects all Wisconsin residents, the environment, and our bank accounts.”
