Don’t let corporate interests dictate the future of our homes. We are united against the proposed massive data center development by Vantage, and subsidized by the people in Port Washington and surrounding counties. This project threatens to fundamentally alter the character of our beloved neighborhoods, bringing irreversible consequences that will impact our finances, our environment, and our quality of life.
Six Reasons Why We Must Oppose This Project
1. Financial Drain on the Community
Data centers generate very little local economic influx. But up to “$455.4 million in development incentive payments to
reimburse Developer for costs it incurs in development of the Project.” would be owed by the City of Port Washington back to Vantage for “infrastructure” improvements to build the datacenter. (Source 12)
- Low Revenue: Besides utility payments (which ratepayers help subsidize), data centers buy very little from the surrounding region (Source 5).
- Missing Forecasts: There is insufficient transparency to adequately delineate how Vantage will substantially and sustainably increase Port Washington’s long-term revenue.
2. No Enforceable Commitments & Lack of Transparency
Vantage makes promising statements on its website about clean energy, noise reduction, and environmental restoration (Source 3). However, our primary concern is the absence of these promises in the publicly available, legally binding Development Agreement.
- The Problem: We cannot find legally binding language compelling Vantage to follow through on these claims. Port Washington cannot afford to fight a company this size in court to enforce non-binding promises.
- Taxpayer Burden: Furthermore, any mitigation measures or “improvements” Vantage is looking to make (e.g., noise reduction, restoration) are structured to be reimbursed by Port Washington Tax Increment Financing (TIF) or local taxes, meaning we pay for the very problems they create.
- Our Demand: We demand public access to all draft and final development agreements and zoning ordinances to ensure every promise is a publicly enforceable guarantee.
3. We Will Pay Higher Electric Bills
This project requires massive amounts of power. Data centers proposed for Wisconsin are set to use enough energy to power 4.3 million homes (Source 1).
- The Cost: This surge in demand necessitates the extensive construction of new power line infrastructure, often leading to environmental destruction. These substantial costs are then directly passed on to you, the ratepayer (Source 2). Wholesale electricity has surged as much as 267% in areas near significant data center activity. (Source 11)
4. Massive Water Consumption: Direct and Indirect
Data centers require astonishing volumes of water, for two reasons: direct use (cooling) and indirect use (power generation).
- Direct Use & Chemical Risk: Even if using a “closed-loop” cooling system, these systems require initial water fill and regular chemical treatments to function. These chemicals often include Antifreeze, Corrosion Inhibitors, Biocides, and Descalers/Dispersants. The use, storage, and disposal of these industrial-grade chemicals present an environmental risk to our Great Lakes watershed and local infrastructure. The lack of public transparency about the type and volume of chemicals used, as well as the water sources, is a major concern (Source 4).
- Indirect Water Footprint: Furthermore, approximately 80% of all water used in Wisconsin is for power production (Source 10). The data center’s extreme electrical demand (Point 2) will necessitate more power generation, dramatically increasing the state’s and potentially our region’s overall water consumption indirectly.
- Lack of Planning: The decision to draw data centers to the Great Lakes for tax breaks has not included proper long-term thinking or coordination regarding our clean water reserves (Source 4).
5. A Job-Creation Bust
The promised economic benefits are misleading.
- Temporary Work: Initial jobs are temporary, focused only on construction–mostly from outside of our community
- Long-Term Scarcity: After construction, employment ranges from a few dozen to a hundred, which is abysmal compared to the financial and environmental costs. Large tech companies often pull in their own union crews, not local workers (Sources 6, 7, 8).
6. Financial Drain on the Community
Data centers generate very little local economic influx.
- Low Revenue: Besides utility payments (which ratepayers help subsidize), data centers buy very little from the surrounding region (Source 5).
- Missing Forecasts: There is insufficient transparency to adequately delineate how Vantage will substantially and sustainably increase Port Washington’s long-term revenue.
7. Decline in Property Values
The proximity to industrial sites like data centers and high-voltage power lines has been proven to negatively impact residential property values (Source: General appraisal standards/market analysis). This threatens the long-term financial security of every homeowner.
Take Action Now! Your Voice is Crucial.
The hurried nature of this project, fueled by elected officials prioritizing corporate gain over citizen interests, is unacceptable. We need to stand together and demand better. We urge you not to stand idly by while our homes, the community, and our great natural resources are destroyed under the guise of job growth, town development, and technological advances.
Let your elected officials know your concerns immediately.
Protect our future. Preserve our community. STOP THE DATA CENTER!
Sources:
- Barrilleaux, A. (2025, September 16). AI data centers in Wisconsin will use more energy than all homes in state combined. Clean Wisconsin.
- Martin, E., & Peskoe, A. (2025, March). Extracting Profits from the Public: How Utility Ratepayers Are Paying for Big Tech’s Power. Harvard EELP.
- Port Washington, Wisconsin. Vantage Data Centers. (2025, October 22).
https://vantage-dc.com/data-center-locations/north-america/port-washington-wisconsin
- Closed-Loop Cooling: Water Saver or Chemical Time Bomb? (2025, July 11)
https://ketos.co/closed-loop-cooling-water-saver-or-chemical-time-bomb
- Shein, E. (2025, March). WSJ debunks AI data centers Jobs Myth. eweek.
https://www.eweek.com/artificial-intelligence/wsj-ai-data-centers-jobs
- Lenio, J. (2015, February 12). The mystery impact of data centers on local economies revealed. Area Development.
- Rayome, A. (2016). Why Data Centers fail to bring new jobs to small towns – techrepublic.
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/why-data-centers-fail-to-bring-new-jobs-to-small-towns/
- Dotan, T. (2025). WSJ: The AI data-center boom is a job-creation bust. TexAgs.
- https://texags.com/forums/16/topics/3530024
- Wisconsin Water Facts
https://waterlibrary.aqua.wisc.edu/water-facts/
- AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring (2025, September 29)
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-ai-data-centers-electricity-prices - Port Washington Government site – Project Plan – Tax Incremental District No. 5