Fond du Lac, WI — State Representative Jerry O’Connor (R- Fond du Lac) released the following statement in support of Assembly Bill 840, which recognizes the growing role of data centers in the modern economy while ensuring their impacts are managed responsibly by ensuring that the cost of increased electricity demand from data centers is not passed on to families and small businesses:
“As more communities are asked to host large data centers, it’s critical that we put Wisconsin families first and make sure local residents aren’t left paying the price,” said O’Connor.
“Wisconsinites deserve certainty that their electric bills won’t go up simply because a data center moves into our state,” O’Connor said. “AB 840 is designed to protect all Wisconsin consumers, not just those who live near a data center.”
AB 840 protects affordability by preventing data center operators from passing electricity costs onto residential ratepayers and requiring large industrial users to pay their own way. It also mandates on-site renewable energy generation to reduce strain on the electric grid, avoid costly transmission upgrades, and limit additional land use. The bill also requires closed-loop cooling systems, annual water use reporting to the DNR, and enforceable reclamation and restoration plans to ensure sites are responsibly managed and restored if projects are abandoned.
“I am always looking for commonsense, win-wins for Wisconsin,” O’Connor added. “We can welcome economic development and modern infrastructure without sacrificing affordability, environmental stewardship, or fairness for taxpayers. AB 840 makes it clear that growth in Wisconsin must be responsible, transparent, and always put Wisconsinites first.”
