As Wisconsin attracts new data centers, many residents want to understand how these facilities affect jobs, energy, and community life. Here are some of the most common questions—answered with facts.
MYTH 1: “Data centers don’t create many Wisconsin jobs.”
FACT: Data centers create thousands of high-quality union jobs in Wisconsin.
All major data-center construction in Wisconsin is performed by union labor—electricians, ironworkers, pipefitters, operators, carpenters, plumbers, HVAC specialists, and more.
Projects typically generate thousands of union construction jobs over multiple years, followed by hundreds of permanent operations careers.
This is one of the largest job-creation opportunities Wisconsin’s building trades have seen in decades.
MYTH 2: “Construction jobs disappear and leave nothing behind.”
FACT: Data centers create thousands of union construction jobs and long-term, well-paid permanent careers.
Once built, data centers rely on a highly trained workforce to operate 24/7. Permanent on-site jobs include:
- Data Center Technicians
- Critical Facilities Engineers
- Network Engineers & Cybersecurity Staff
- Security Officers
- Operations Specialists
- Maintenance & Grounds Teams
Data centers also contract with Wisconsin companies long-term for electrical work, mechanical maintenance, landscaping, snow removal, fiber installation, and equipment servicing—driving ongoing economic activity for local businesses.
MYTH 3: “Data centers don’t support clean energy—they only consume it.”
FACT: Data centers are major drivers of renewable-energy growth in Wisconsin.
Every large data-center investment in the state includes significant commitments to:
- Renewable-energy purchases
- Battery-storage investments
- Partnerships with utilities to fund new solar and wind projects
With federal renewable-energy tax credits shrinking, data-center investments are directly helping pay for Wisconsin-based clean-energy projects that otherwise would not be built.
Their long-term commitments enable utilities to accelerate construction of modern, clean generation—benefiting the entire state.
MYTH 4: “Data centers make Wisconsin’s energy grid more expensive.”
FACT: Data centers strengthen the grid and help utilities plan more efficiently.
Because data centers use power at a steady, predictable level, they help utilities:
- Plan future investments accurately
- Spread system costs across more users
- Pay to upgrade aging infrastructure
- Invest in new renewable-energy resources
Data centers work closely with utilities and state regulators to ensure their development enhances Wisconsin’s grid rather than burdens it.
MYTH 5: “Data centers harm Wisconsin’s environment.”
FACT: Wisconsin data centers are built to advanced sustainability standards.
Modern campuses incorporate:
- Water-efficient cooling
- Closed-loop liquid cooling
- Stormwater-management systems
- Wetland preservation
- Extensive native landscaping and tree planting
- High-efficiency building systems
These facilities are designed to meet—or exceed—every Wisconsin environmental requirement.
MYTH 6: “Data centers use too much water.”
FACT: New Wisconsin facilities use innovative cooling systems that dramatically reduce water use.
Developers rely on:
- Air-cooled and hybrid systems
- Closed-loop cooling
- Water-reuse and reclamation technologies
They use municipal water and sewer systems—not lakes or rivers—and often pay for needed system upgrades themselves.
MYTH 7: “Data centers will change the character of communities.”
FACT: Data centers are some of the lowest-impact neighbors Wisconsin can host.
They produce:
- No smokestacks or emissions
- No odors
- No industrial waste
- Very little traffic after construction
- Minimal noise
- Minimal demand on schools or public safety
Native landscaping, berms, and thoughtful design help them blend into surrounding areas.
MYTH 8: “Property values will fall because of a data center.”
FACT: Modern, well-designed data centers do not negatively affect property values.
Because they are quiet, clean, secure, and low-traffic, they avoid the typical impacts that drive down real-estate values.
In many cases, they help stabilize or increase nearby commercial and industrial value.
MYTH 9: “Data centers don’t give back to Wisconsin.”
FACT: Every major Wisconsin data center includes significant community investment.
These facilities support:
- Education and STEM programs in local schools
- Workforce training
- Technical-college partnerships
- Community-benefit agreements
- Nonprofit and public-safety funding
- Infrastructure improvements
These contributions deliver broad, long-term benefits across Wisconsin communities.
MYTH 10: “Data centers burden local infrastructure.”
FACT: Developers routinely pay for needed upgrades themselves.
Major data-center investments fund:
- Water-system enhancements
- Sewer and wastewater improvements
- Road upgrades
- Utility-infrastructure expansion
These improvements benefit both the data center and surrounding residents.
MYTH 11: “Data centers are risky—technology might change.”
FACT: Digital infrastructure demand is accelerating, not shrinking.
Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, logistics, health care, education, and advanced manufacturing all rely on data centers.
They are mission-critical infrastructure—just as essential as roads, utilities, and broadband.
MYTH 12: “Data centers offer little long-term value to Wisconsin.”
FACT: Data centers provide decades of economic and energy benefits.
A modern Wisconsin data center brings:
- Multi-year union construction jobs
- Permanent, well-paying operations careers
- Millions in stable tax revenue
- New Wisconsin-based renewable-energy generation
- Broadband and infrastructure upgrades
- Long-term local business growth
Data centers are among the highest-value, lowest-impact economic-development opportunities available today.
Bottom Line: Data Centers Are Building Wisconsin’s Future
Wisconsin’s data-center investments are delivering:
- Thousands of union jobs
- Hundreds of long-term operations careers
- Major new clean-energy projects across the state
- Stronger local infrastructure
- Reliable tax revenue
- Sustainable, low-impact development
Data centers are helping make Wisconsin a national leader in digital infrastructure—while strengthening the workforce, powering clean-energy growth, and building lasting community prosperity.
