Packed house in Port Washington as people speak out against data center

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A packed house at Port Washington City Hall Tuesday, Oct. 7, as more than a hundred people showed up to have their voices heard about the 1,600-acre, 3.2 million square foot Artificial Intelligence Data Center coming to the city.

The Common Council meeting was so packed, the chamber reached full capacity and the city stopped letting people in, having them listen from the halls and downstairs through a streaming link.

It was a passionate crowd with people cheering, booing and chanting, with a majority of those people against the data center.

Those opposing it shared their environmental and financial concerns.

Many people came from out of town sharing their grievances about how the proposed powerlines to be built to fuel this project could be constructed on their property, saying to keep it out of their yards.

Others shared concerns over the estimated use of 22,000 gallons of water a day and how it will impact their water and electricity bills.

“We want them to know that we are here,” said Abby Laabs, a Fredonia resident. “We are going to keep coming back, no matter what. We are fighting against this. We are pushing every way we can. We are looking through every avenue.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Ted Neitzke IV and the Common Council continue to stand by the data center, saying its already been approved and that a groundbreaking will happen in the next 6 to 8 weeks.

“How does it make us feel?,” said Patti Plough, with the Protect Fredonia Coalition. “Like we are not being heard.”

Several people did show up in favor of the data center, saying the center and AI are the future. They say they look forward to the estimated 4,000 jobs it will bring in while it’s under construction for the next few years.

“This is going to be family supporting wages paid on this project and at the same time it’s going to allow apprentices to start their career,” said William Coleman, a representative for North Central States Regional Council Carpenters. “It’s going to allow journeymen to finish out their career. Building for the future. This is a new technology that’s coming out and we want to make sure we are at the cutting edge when this technology hits.”

Mayor Neitzke says the city is in a financial crisis and that they need the data center.

Tuesday night they voted to approve several rezoning and annexations for different acres of land in connection to the project.