Hundreds of people across western Wisconsin are gathering over the weekend of June 13-14 for two separate events responding to new proposals for hyperscale data center developments in our region. With more than a dozen proposed data centers across Wisconsin, residents are starting to organize through Great Lakes Neighbors United and GROWW (Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin) to seek proactive protections from massive AI data center developments.
On Saturday, June 13 in Eau Claire, more than 800 people have already registered for Uniting West Wisconsin: A Regional Response to Data Centers, headlined by viral Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens. Berens has emerged as a vocal critic of the sudden and often secretive nature of Silicon Valley-backed data center proposals. Berens will be joined by local musicians Soren Staff and Beau Janke of Them Coulee Boys and Madilyn Bailey. The event will take place at High Country in the Eau Claire Event District. Doors will open at 5 pm; the program will begin at 6 pm. To guarantee a spot in person, organizers are encouraging people to register quickly, before seats run out. With registrations reaching maximum capacity, event organizers plan to stream the event online and will share details on Uniting West Wisconsin’s Facebook page.
With high community interest in protections from large data center developments, event organizers are inviting community members to an event the next day in Knapp, focusing on community conversations on data centers and the future of western Wisconsin.
The Sunday event, called the West Wisconsin Neighborhood Chautauqua, takes place on Sunday, June 14 at 1 pm, at Knappa Valley Venue in Knapp. Food will be available from noon to 1, alongside music from D. Janakey, an acclaimed folk musician. The June 14 event will be an opportunity for community members and elected officials to come together and discuss how communities can work together to prepare for and respond to data center developments.
“No one wins when communities are caught off guard,” said Sarah Stokes, a small business owner from Rusk County. “This gathering was born out of Menomonie’s controversial data center dealings. It doesn’t have to happen like that again. Local decisions with aware leaders will bring wisdom to the table. This matters when the stakes are so high.”
Coming out of the two weekend events, organizers will be urging local people and elected officials to work together to understand and respond to large-scale data centers proposals. Their shared priorities include ensuring transparency from start to finish with companies making proposals as well as protections for Wisconsin water, land, energy infrastructure, and communities.
“This land use has impacts that don’t stop at city limits or the county line,” said Blaine Halverson, a Menomonie resident who organized with neighbors around the Menomonie data center. “That requires a reframe. We’re not a region… we’re a neighborhood. And when we see ourselves as NEIGHBORS, we find our collective voice, and transform our collective future.”
Registration for the Uniting West Wisconsin event with Charlie Berens and the West Wisconsin Neighborhood Chautauqua can be found at unitingwestwisconsin.glnu.org. With space running out for the event featuring Charlie Berens, event organizers are encouraging those interested to register soon and show up early to secure a spot.
