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Clean Wisconsin warns data center-driven generation could cause billions in health costs
Summary
Clean Wisconsin presented modeling that ties approved and proposed data center projects to new fossil‑fuel generation, estimating roughly $6 billion in health harms and 430 premature deaths over 20 years under conservative assumptions.
Kieran of Clean Wisconsin told the committee that a small number of approved and proposed hyperscale data centers are driving a projected 40% statewide load increase in some models and that the likely generation response includes new gas plants. "Assuming 20 year life of operation, which is conservative, [these plants] will cause $6,000,000,000 in health costs and 430 premature deaths," Kieran said during the presentation.
Clean Wisconsin identified Microsoft’s Mount Pleasant phases, the Port Washington lighthouse project and a Beaver Dam Meta site as examples and listed several gas‑plant dockets (Oak Creek, Paris units, Red Oak Ridge and Foundry Ridge) that are approved or pending before the Public Service Commission. The presenter warned that those decisions will lock in emissions for decades and that diesel backup generators at some data centers present acute local air quality risks.
The nonprofit recommended policy and technical alternatives: stricter air‑permit conditions (stronger emission limits, continuous fence‑line monitoring and public data), greater data‑center operational flexibility, energy efficiency, demand response and pairing renewables with storage. Committee members pressed on the feasibility of near‑term 100% renewables; Clean Wisconsin said it is a multi‑decade transition and that storage and demand flexibility are needed to bridge the gap.
