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County Executive says Washington County unlikely to host large AI data centers soon because of power constraints
Summary
Washington County Executive Josh Schman told residents the county is unlikely to host major AI data centers in the near term because it lacks the necessary power distribution; he said transmission upgrades to serve regional projects may still affect east-side neighborhoods and farmland.
County Executive Josh Schman said Washington County is unlikely to host a large AI data center in the near future because the county lacks sufficient power distribution and supply to meet the scale of demand such facilities require.
"My biggest concern about data centers in general is power — power supply and power distribution specifically," Schman said, explaining that inquiries his office has tracked appear to have sought sites elsewhere. He cited reporting about a data center near Beaver Dam that "will have an energy need of about 150,000 homes," using the example to illustrate the scale of demand such facilities can create.
Schman said the county does not have nearby large-generation assets or transmission capacity to make the math work for those projects. "We don't have the appropriate energy distribution coming to us to be able to handle the scale and size and scope of power that would be needed," he said, noting the absence of local facilities comparable to those near Port Washington or proposed large-generation projects such as Two Creeks.
Although Schman said Washington County is unlikely to host the massive campuses seen in neighboring counties, he warned of localized impacts from transmission upgrades. Residents on the county's east side — including the towns of Trenton, Farmington and Jackson, he said — should expect possible new high-voltage transmission towers and expansions of existing distribution lines to carry power to regional centers.
Schman acknowledged other community concerns, including water use and loss of farmland. He said closed-loop water systems used by many data centers make water a lesser concern for him than power, but that the amount of acreage taken for associated renewable generation and transmission "will be a substantial amount." He pointed to examples in other places — Microsoft in Mount Pleasant, Vantage, Oracle at Port Washington and Meta in Beaver Dam — as evidence that data center projects can consume hundreds to thousands of acres.
Schman said Washington County can monitor nearby projects and adopt best practices before a large site chooses the county, and he invited residents with questions to email the county. "If you have more questions that you'd like to hear answers to, please email us at the email address below," he said. The Washco Weekly segment concluded with that invitation and a sign-off.
