Proposed data center in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, raises concerns about significant energy demand

Event information

- The city of Beaver Dam, in collaboration with Alliant Energy and the Beaver Dam Area Development Corporation, is working on a potential data center development within the 500-acre Beaver Dam Commerce Park. While specific details about the developer and project size remain confidential, the initiative has progressed with the formation of a tax increment financing district and the approval of development and water utility agreements. Data centers are known for their substantial energy consumption, using 10 to 50 times more energy per floor space than typical commercial office buildings. For instance, Microsoft's data center in Mount Pleasant is expected to require 450 megawatts, enough to power approximately 300,000 homes. Such developments have raised concerns about the strain on Wisconsin's electric grid and the state's ability to meet the increasing energy demand.