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| |  | Data centers are proliferating across Wisconsin, and residents are pushing back. (Cbrasil0 / Wikimedia Commons) |
| 🖥️ Are Data Centers THE Issue in Wisconsin Politics? | | Whether it’s at a local city council or on the national stage, the debate over data centers is shaping up to be a major election issue in Wisconsin in 2026. And it’s an issue that doesn’t necessarily fall neatly along partisan lines. | | Bipartisan opposition: A new survey from Wisconsin Conservation Voters found 53% of respondents opposed data centers, and 60% had a negative impact on communities. While Democrats and younger people registered higher disapproval, opposition was still prevalent among Republicans and older adults. [Cap Times] | | How many are there? DataCenterMap lists 55 data centers in Wisconsin, including 13 in the Madison area. [DataCenterMap] | | Pumping the brakes: The Madison City Council voted in January for a one-year pause on the creation of new data centers over 10,000 feet to give staff time to assess their environmental and economic impact. Also in January, QTS withdrew its plans to build a data center near DeForest after the village board declared the project “not feasible.” [WKOW] | | Energy bill impact: How much power will be needed to run the facilities, and who will pay for it, is a key issue in the data center debate. We Energies has proposed creating a special electric rate for data centers. | While the special rate is intended to protect consumers from rake hikes, interest groups say there are loopholes in the proposal that could lead to higher bills. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin is expected to vote on the plan this month, and on a similar plan from Alliant Energy later this spring. [ 🎧 City Cast Madison, WPR] | | Candidates weigh in: Data centers came up at a forum for Democrats running for governor last week. All seven candidates called for more state regulations on AI data centers and a pivot to 100 percent renewable energy. Meanwhile, the data center effect was felt in the April 7 election, when Port Washington voters approved a referendum giving them a say in future data center developments. [WPR, Wisconsin Watch] | | Boon or boondoggle?: On the City Cast podcast “Your City Could Be Better,” host Bianca Martin and City Cast CEO David Plotz had a spirited debate on whether Madison’s one-year pause was a good idea or not. [ 🎧 City Cast Madison] | | Keep ‘er moving: One of the biggest voices against the proliferation of data centers is Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens. Berens is on the City Cast Madison podcast today to talk to host Bianca Martin about his serious worries about data centers, as well as how he became such an comedic ambassador for the state. [ 🎧 City Cast Madison] | | |
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| | | Simply Eloped helps couples ditch the pressure and celebrate your love story on your terms. We’ve planned over 14,000 personalized elopements and vow renewals in gorgeous locations nationwide. Is yours next? |
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| What Madison's Talking About |
| 📸 County pulls funding for Flock cameras: The Dane County Board voted last week to stop funding controversial Flock Safety cameras, which privacy advocates say are ripe for abuse. The move cuts $80,000 from the budget and prevents the sheriff’s office from renewing its contract with Flock in June. [News 3, 🎧City Cast Madison] | | ⚖️ UW-Madison law professor Marc Galanter dies: Marc Galanter, a longtime law professor at UW-Madison, died last Tuesday at 95. Law School Dean Dan Tokaji said Galanter was a giant in legal academia, and his writing has been cited 6,751 times. [ 🔒WSJ] | | “He’s an important figure in our law school and its history, but well beyond that. Marc had an impact on not just legal scholarship but how we genuinely understand the rule of law.” | Dan Tokaji | Dean, UW-Madison School of Law |
| | 👋 Controversial head of civil rights department retires: Norman Davis, the leader of Madison’s Department of Civil Rights, will retire later this year, he said in an email to staff. The city investigated allegations of discrimination by Davis made by several employees, and cleared him of those allegations last fall. [Cap Times] | | 🦅 MG&E falcon lays four eggs, has new beau: Trudy the peregrine falcon has laid four eggs in the nesting box at Madison Gas & Electric’s Blount Generating Station. But Melvin, who was Trudy’s partner for the past 11 years, has been replaced by a new male, MG&E officials said. Watch the eggs’ progress on the Falcon Cam. [ 🔒WSJ, MG&E] | | 📚 Lake City Books moving across Square: The downtown independent bookstore Lake City Books will move across the Capitol Square into a larger space at 120 South Carroll Street in July. Owner Molly Fish said the new space will offer room for more books, an outdoor patio and a wine bar. [Lake Street Books] |
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| | | We made something special with Oxford Pennant and we're kind of obsessed. Become a Neighbor to snag yours today. |
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📰 Extra! Extra! We’ve got some new City Cast Madison Neighbors to welcome. A big thanks to Nicole K., Kendell G. and Elaine S. for your support! | | We’re entering the second and final week of our spring membership drive, and we’ve got a ways to go to hit our goal of 125 new members. Can I count on you to help us get there? | | |
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