MADISON, WI – Today, The Wisconsin State Assembly passed Assembly Bill 840, a bill that claims to address data center concerns. As Wisconsin becomes a highly sought after destination for development of hyperscale data centers, our state must establish an intentional and responsible regulatory framework for this emerging economy. Assembly Bill 840 falls short in important respects.
Senator Habush Sinykin released the following statement:
“Our state has a responsibility to establish reasonable, responsible guardrails for data centers and big tech, ensuring they are held accountable to our workforce, communities, and environment. While Assembly Bill 840 gestures at protecting ratepayers, the vague and unworkable language invites litigation and would not deliver stronger consumer protections or cost savings. In addition to the rushed language and process, restricting renewable energy ignores market realities and would block the cheapest sources of power (solar and wind), driving up costs for everyone and increasing reliance on fossil fuels. This bill was not well thought out, has not been vetted, does not have stakeholder support, and could be harmful to existing laws and rules. Ultimately, this proposal does not deliver enough benefits to our communities or Wisconsin families.
“Wisconsinites across the state and the political spectrum are demanding accountability and action on this issue–they are not looking for political games or disingenuous legislation. I will be continuing my efforts to leverage the key provisions of my proposed Data Center Accountability Act to best protect ratepayers, ensure transparency and good-paying jobs, accelerate our clean energy transition, and hold big tech and data centers accountable to our Wisconsin values.”
