WEDC chief John Miller argues with more than 40 other states already building data centers, “Wisconsin can’t lose out on that type of innovation, otherwise we’re going to get left behind.”

Miller, appointed by Gov. Tony Evers to the job in December, appeared at a luncheon yesterday hosted by WisPolitics-State Affairs and the Wisconsin Technology Council. In response to an audience question about controversies surrounding the energy-intensive data center projects being developed in Wisconsin, Miller pointed to the “thousands and thousands” of jobs being created by these projects. 

In addition to the construction work needed for the multi-billion dollar developments, he also touted the partnerships being created by tech companies, such as Microsoft’s work to establish Green Bay’s TitletownTech VC fund and the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab at UW-Milwaukee. 

“So there’s a lot of good being derived from this data center work,” he said.

Data centers have emerged as an early issue in the governor’s race, with Dem David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany trading shots over each other’s positions on the projects. Tiffany’s second ad post-primary also sought to label his rival “Data Center David.”

During the luncheon, Miller acknowledged concerns being voiced about the projects, noting “stressful areas” for state residents such as their massive energy consumption and water usage. 

Still, he argued data centers use the same amount of power as other factories.

“When you tell your friends about data centers, say if you don’t like data centers, stop eating cheese because it takes more … more water, to make cheese,” Miller said.

Watch the full luncheon.