Kenosha residents press council to oppose proposed data center, cite cost and transparency concerns

Residents urged the Kenosha Common Council on Feb. 2 to oppose a proposed data center and a related Public Service Commission tariff they said would shift infrastructure and fuel costs onto local households.

Nicholas Porock, a District 9 candidate, told the council he had submitted material to the PSC docket and said the tariff proposal would allocate 75% of the infrastructure cost to the data center developers while leaving residents responsible for 25% and for power-plant fuel costs. “If this tariff is passed … our electricity bills will rise,” Porock said, asking councilors to “stand up for your residents.”

Other speakers also criticized transparency around the project. Kara Gerlock said city staff had signed a nondisclosure agreement with Microsoft that limited public information and warned that “once that development plan is in place, it will be too late for the community to do anything about it.” Christopher Lyons urged councilors to give “your constituents a seat at the table,” citing environmental concerns.

Commenters referenced corporate partners repeatedly named in the hearing record: We Energies and, in public remarks, Microsoft and Vantage. Several said parts of submissions to the PSC were redacted, and questioned whether city or utility staff had provided adequate information to the public. “Microsoft will demand corporate welfare because that’s what happens during this process,” Gerlock said.

The council did not take a formal vote on the data-center project at the Feb. 2 meeting. Multiple speakers said they had organized community outreach, cited local and statewide media coverage and asked council members to review the PSC docket and the emails submitted by residents.

What happens next: speakers urged the council to engage with constituents and to scrutinize any development agreements or incentives (such as tax increment financing) before those documents are finalized.