Milwaukee protest against data centers one of 7 held across the state Tuesday

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Tuesday, Dec. 2, several protests were held across Wisconsin to oppose the development of data centers in the state. It's a second day of coordinated action and comes on the heels of a bill that would require more transparency throughout the process.

Some state lawmakers are trying to provide guardrails for an industry that is exploding across the state. But many people are still concerned.

Erica Steib is an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. At the protest, she told us, "We've seen things like this happen before: promises of these industries coming in and it's going to be so good for the economy."

Through 20-degree temperatures Tuesday evening, a few dozen protesters marched against data centers, saying they don't want Wisconsin sold to tech companies.

Ever since a 2023 law incentivized data center projects, developers have flocked to Wisconsin.

But many communities have voiced concern over how the land, lake, and people will be impacted. Now protesters want a statewide pause on the projects.

Steib said, "They're developing at a rapid pace and people across the state are saying, 'No, I don't want this.' Or 'We need way more time to really get the information.'"

But several are already in development, including in Port Washington.

A major concern is with transparency: many feel developers are hiding key details.

State Representative Angela Stroud, a Democrat, introduced a bill that would require more transparency.

Stroud said, "We know this is a key part of our economy. We know that this is a growing industry, but we have to have a regulation that protects the public and the environment. We have zero regulation currently."

Among the bill's requirements: transparency regarding water and energy use and making sure data centers pay their fair share of utility costs.

So far, the most vocal proponents of data centers have been the leaders of local municipalities where they'll be built.

But it's difficult to say what the industry will look like in 10 or 20 years.

"I'm worried about 10, 15, 20 months," Stroud told us." "I mean, I really do think this could be a bubble."

Stroud says there has been strong support for her bill from Democrats, but Republican support has been slow to materialize. "We need to have something in place as a starting point, and we need to continue to look at ways that we might improve this legislation or offer additional legislation."

Stroud said her bill is stuck in committee and has not been assigned a hearing, not uncommon for Democrat-sponsored bills in the Republican-controlled Assembly.

But she hopes to see a Republican-backed proposal soon that would lead to negotiations and eventual regulation.