An article appeared in the June 12, 2026, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel stating:
“We Energies is asking state regulators to loosen some artificial intelligence data center companies’ financial guarantees under a recently approved electric rate.
The Public Service Commission in April approved the utility’s creation of a separate electric power rate for hyperscale data centers, with modifications to strengthen customer protections and accountability measures for tech companies. That included a requirement that data center companies with credit ratings below A- post financial guarantees in the form of cash or lines of credit.”
I oppose We Energies’ request for two reasons.
First, while Wisconsin wants to encourage job creation and responsible economic growth, AI data centers are environmentally disastrous, consuming huge amounts of water and electricity. Our state would be better off without such monstrosities.
Second, if we must have them, their companies should offer financial guarantees. If Oracle, a $600 billion company with a credit rating below A-, can’t afford a cost of $100 million per year, I’d want to know why not. Its current and projected debt load is staggering.
Wisconsin needs to ensure electric customers are not saddled with higher costs due to failed data centers or their corporations.
Michael Forster,
Appleton
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This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: LETTER: Appleton reader opposes WE Energies’ asks regarding data centers
Reporting by Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
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By Appleton Post-Crescent | USA TODAY Network
