This article from the Badger Herald backs up the claim that AI data centers in Wisconsin are affecting and neglecting school districts and harming the environment, especially in more rural areas with less money. Quote from it, “If big tech cared about this community, they would have structured a community benefit agreement that provides funding for Port Washington and Saukville schools, funding for the $30 million municipal building, and an agreement to fund the varied power lines to protect rural landscape” (Badger Herald).  Money that is going into AI could be used to benefit the school systems and teach students about issues like this. But instead, it is funding the opposite.

n Racine, Wisconsin, a city of 77,816 on Lake Michigan, AI data centers are specifically targeting this lower-income community. They are taking 2.8 million gallons of water to generate these facilities, but would return just over 2 million gallons to the lake. This imbalance can put pressure on local water resources, especially during times of high demand or drought. For residents, this can lead to increased utility costs, reduced access to clean water, and greater strain on local infrastructure. Additionally, because these impacts are concentrated in a lower-income area, they can worsen existing economic and health disparities. This means that while the benefits of AI are widespread, the environmental and financial burdens are placed more heavily on the people living closest to these data centers.

According to Dr. Brittany Keyes, a clean air policy manager at Healthy Climate Wisconsin, a climate organization of healthcare professionals, “Many of the discussions [regarding data centers] are done quietly, behind closed doors, or in closed session, and transparency is limited almost until it is too late for the public to get involved or really influence the decision at a local level.” When discussions happen “behind closed doors,” communities are excluded from having a meaningful voice in projects that directly affect their environment, resources, and quality of life. This lack of transparency can lead to decisions being made without fully considering local concerns, especially in areas that may already face economic or environmental challenges.

Microsoft is doing $3.3 billion project in Wisconsin and it is calling it the most advanced AI data center in the world. It will use 8.44 million gallons of water each year once it is fully built out, the equivalent of about 13 Olympic-sized swimming pools.