Bending the Arc references a quote by Rev. Dr. King who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This digital newsletter from the CSA Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office showcases the work of changemakers, opportunities to learn, and opportunities for you to help “bend the arc” toward justice. Full contents of the newsletter are published on this page.
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Hold Data Centers Accountable
November 14, 2025
Data centers have been all over the news lately, with new ones and new proposals popping up across the state of Wisconsin. These data centers need massive amounts of energy to operate and water to cool their systems - resources they expect Wisconsin to provide.
The only legislation the state has passed on data centers so far include tax breaks and no requirements attached. But help is on the way! On Friday, Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin and Rep. Angela Stroud introduced the Data Center Accountability Bill (LRB 5432) – the first measure to hold tech and utility companies accountable when building, powering, and operating data centers. It ensures communities and ratepayers aren’t left bearing the financial and environmental costs.
The Data Center Accountability Bill (LRB 5432) would:
- Require data centers to contribute to Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy Fund, which supports energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-income energy assistance. And, half of the contributions would go to the Green Innovation Fund, which supports next-generation environmental and clean energy technologies and projects in Wisconsin.
- Require data centers to source at least 70 percent of their annual electricity from renewable sources to qualify for state tax exemptions.
- Mandate that utilities provide transparency on water and energy use.
This also protects workers by requiring those who build data centers be paid the prevailing wage or, if covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the higher of the two.
It is crucial that our state legislature adopt these standards for data centers.
Please contact your Wisconsin State legislator and ask them to support the Data Center Accountability Bill.
Don’t stop there! Take a stand against unchecked data center development with Clean Wisconsin too. They are calling on state and local leaders to pause AI data center approvals until Wisconsin has a comprehensive state plan to ensure their projects will not harm our communities. Learn more at https://www.cleanwisconsin.org/take-a-stand-against-unchecked-data-center-development/
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