Wisconsin Rapids planning commission votes to create moratorium on data centers

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WSAW) - The Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday to create a moratorium on data centers, which will place additional restrictions on future data centers before they can be built.

Dozens of people attended the meeting to voice concerns about building a data center within the city. One person called on the city to act.

The proposed development would be built at the city’s former paper mill site along the Wisconsin River.

“Now is the time to write the strongest ordinance Wisconsin has seen on data centers and go into moratorium to do that,” the resident said.

Mayor responds to public interest

Mayor Matt Zacher said he welcomed the level of public engagement on the issue.

“Everyone has done a good job communicating and I appreciate that,” Zacher said. “We talk about benefits agreements and all sorts of stuff at our first meeting, so I definitely appreciate everything that’s happened since then.”

Zacher also explained to those in attendance that the city must follow specific legal steps before adding regulations to its ordinances. Many people were seeking immediate action.

Congressional candidate attends meeting

Wisconsin 7th Congressional District Democratic candidate Ginger Murray also attended the meeting. Though Wisconsin Rapids is not in her district, she spoke during the public hearing.

Murray, who spent years as a city attorney, said she wanted to hear concerns from people across the state about data centers and share what she has learned from other communities dealing with similar issues.

“The public depends on government to protect our natural resources,” Murray said. “They’re the ones that have the funds available to address it. No individual taxpayer can stand up to these big businesses that are coming in.”

Murray also helped clarify the legal process the mayor was describing to the crowd.

“This isn’t the hearing on that application and they need to draw that distinction,” Murray said. “But this is the opportunity for the public to be heard on their preferences, and they’re doing a pretty good job on that.”

No updates to city ordinances were made at Monday’s meeting.

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