Referencing the article “Governor candidates speak on data centers,” (April 17) a number of proposals were offered: Statewide freeze on construction until “guard rails” are in place (Francesca Hong, Joel Brennan); End subsidies, sales tax exemption, TIF districts and use of productive farmland for data centers (Tom Tiffany); require environmental and utility impact study before each new project (Mandela Barnes); allow local residents to have veto power over construction (Tiffany, Hong, Sara Rodriguez, Kelda Roys). All oppose nondisclosure agreements for these centers. All want to keep increased utility costs down for local ratepayers. A lot of agreement.
But here’s an important distinction, Rodriguez has stated that each data center should produce 100% of their own power onsite, and that it should be with green power (geo-thermal, solar, wind) rather than by fossil fuel. This is significant because onsite access eliminates long-distance energy infrastructure.
American Transmission Company is currently asking the Public Service Commission’s permission to build a $1.5 billion transmission line and substations of 345-kilovolts (kV) (at ratepayers’ expense), cutting a 96-123 mile path, 100 feet wide, through Wisconsin forests, wetlands, farmland and neighborhoods in order for a combination of renewable and gas-burning power to reach the Port Washington campus, along with diesel engine back-up power.
Another ATC proposal is in early phases for Mount Pleasant. Considering these permanent environmental impacts, Rodriguez’s requirement for onsite energy seems the only realistic solution to preventing disastrous destruction of our natural resources in order to drive data centers — which some say may become obsolete within a decade.
Dianne Dagelen, Wauwatosa
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin candidate offers realistic data center solution | Letter
Reporting by Letters to the Editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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