Pressure can work

It may be frustratingly incremental, and, possibly, too little, too late, but pressure can work.

Exhibit 1: David Crowley, who has spent most of this campaign ignoring the wishes of the vast majority of Wisconsinites now says he supports a pause in data center construction until safeguards can be put in place. Why was this so hard? Could it be the data center/gas and union support he received when he re-entered the race? Whatever the reason for the turnaround (thank you Sierra Club and Midwest Environmenal Advocates), he changed.

And, there will be more opportunities to apply pressure, according to the Wisconsin Chapter Sierra Club: "The DNR has until January 2028 to complete a statewide strategic analysis–a process that will examine the broader environmental consequences of data center development, including demands on water and energy resources, impacts on air quality and climate, and the effects of related infrastructure such as power plants and transmission lines. According to the terms of the settlement, Vantage Data Centers must pay all costs related to the strategic analysis. There will be public input opportunities throughout this process. Stay tuned!" 

Exhibit 2: Just two days after nearly 200 voters from Southwest Wisconsin lobbied their representatives in Madison to halt two proposed 765kV power which would criss-cross the rural driftless region, the Public Service Commission announced a public hearing on the projects. From the group No 765 Line, "On Tuesday, October 13, 173 people checked in for A Day of Power in Madison. Teams of residents from ten counties then met with legislators or their staff in 49 offices about ... two proposed 765,000-volt (765 kV) transmission lines. The day ended with the State of the Campaign Address in the Capitol Rotunda. 

"On October 15, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, the state board that decides whether power lines get built and who may operate as a utility, issued notice that the application by BECI’s developer to become a Wisconsin utility will be decided in a contested case, with a hearing where parties present witnesses and evidence. Requests to become a party are due October 29."

Learn more about how you can help at https://no765line.org.

Does pressure always work? No. Can you know in advance if it will work or not? No. Just do it.