On Saturday, the Wisconsin State Journal published an opinion column by Peder Mewis, Regional Policy Director for Clean Grid Alliance covering Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. He explains that Wisconsin’s energy industry is at a turning point, with major investments in data centers like Microsoft’s $3.3 billion project in Mount Pleasant and a proposed $837 million facility in Beaver Dam expected to significantly increase demand. These projects promise jobs and economic growth, but also pose an important question: How can Wisconsin, a net-importer of energy, meet the demands of tomorrow?
Mewis writes that Wisconsin must act fast to modernize its grid using a mix of renewable sources like wind, solar, and battery storage, along with flexible backups such as natural gas and possibly nuclear. Not only is clean energy a cost-effective solution, but it already supports nearly 10,000 jobs in the state and is one of the quickest energy sources to deploy, meaning the state can deliver on its energy needs sooner.
Read the whole article here or find excerpts below:
Wisconsin must power up for AI energy surge | Peder Mewis
By Peder Mewis
Wisconsin State Journal
Wisconsin is at a turning point. With a surge of interest in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data storage, our state is becoming a hub for digital infrastructure. Wisconsin is at a turning point. With a surge of interest in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data storage, our state is becoming a hub for digital infrastructure.
Data centers — such as Microsoft’s $3.3 billion campus in Mount Pleasant and a proposed $837 million facility in Beaver Dam — are bringing billions of dollars in private investment, a stronger tax base and the promise of quality, family-supporting jobs to communities across the state.
But these opportunities come with a challenge: How do we power them?
The good news is the solution is right in front of us, and our state is leading the way.
Wisconsin now uses six times more energy than it produces. According to a 2024 federal report, data centers accounted for 4.4% of the nation’s electricity use in 2023, and that could nearly triple to 12% by 2028. The first phase of Microsoft’s Mount Pleasant campus alone will consume enough energy to power over 300,000 homes — more than the total number of housing units in Dane County and about three-quarters of the housing units in Milwaukee County.
Meeting this demand will require bold leadership and smart planning. Wisconsin needs a modern, reliable grid built on a foundation of clean, renewable energy with support from traditional generation sources. There is no silver bullet solution — only a smart, diverse mix of energy resources that can meet growing demand without sacrificing reliability or sustainability.
That means scaling up investment in wind, solar and battery storage — and doing it fast enough to keep pace with our economy’s energy needs.
Renewable energy is economically smart. These power sources are increasingly the most cost-effective options for new generation. These projects typically have shorter permitting and construction timelines compared to other energy sources, meaning they can be online and delivering power quicker. Plus, they’re creating jobs in Wisconsin.
From solar installers to wind technicians to the skilled trades workers who help build and maintain these systems, Wisconsin’s clean energy job sector already supports nearly 10,000 workers in wind, solar and battery storage alone. Utility providers across the state recognize this. They are expanding renewable generation as part of their long-term strategies. Companies such as Microsoft agree and are making major commitments to clean energy, working with utilities to bring new carbon-free power sources onto the regional grid.
A balanced approach where renewable energy plays a leading role in our energy future also requires flexible backup generation. This includes natural gas and even nuclear. With renewed, bipartisan interest in nuclear innovation and breakthroughs in fusion research, safer, more efficient nuclear power could be part of the long-term solution. Our aging infrastructure is overdue for modernization. Renewable energy can make our grid more resilient and better able to support increased energy demand.
Gov. Tony Evers, Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, and Sen. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin, have demonstrated foresight by advocating for a more innovative energy future that positions our state as a forward-thinking destination for energy and growth. With an “all the above” approach, Wisconsin can pursue additional ways to work together to meet our energy needs.
With rising energy demand from data centers and electrification across industries, Wisconsin cannot afford to fall behind. The decisions we make today will determine whether we are prepared to power our homes, economy, jobs and communities for decades to come.
Let’s embrace a balanced, reliable strategy that keeps Wisconsin open for innovation.
Read the full article in the Wisconsin State Journal.
Powering Wisconsin is a member-led coalition aimed at advancing renewable energy solutions that move Wisconsin toward increased sustainability while spurring economic development and protecting private property rights. To learn more, visit PoweringWisconsin.org.
