MADISON, Wis. — On January 20th, the Wisconsin State Assembly voted on a controversial data center bill that was introduced eleven days prior.
Representative Randy Udell (D-47th District) released the following statement:
“AI data center regulations are one of the most critical policy issues facing Wisconsin. As such, Legislative Democrats spent a year researching and delivering a proposal that contains comprehensive ratepayer protections, transparency requirements, and environmental security.
“Instead of using our research to benefit the state, Assembly Republicans spent less than two weeks forcing through their industry-backed AI data center bill. Their proposal does not require data centers to cover their own energy costs, which means that AI’s exorbitant energy demands will increase the utility bills of Wisconsin’s ratepayers. Their bill also bans off-site renewable energy from powering data centers, which would guarantee new fossil-fuel plants across the state.
“The Republican majority’s proposal is lazy lip-service instead of real legislative action. They clearly have no interest in delivering the protections Wisconsin communities desperately need.”
