Journal Sentinel54%
If local residents don't want data centers, don't build them here 59%
By Mandela Barnes0%
7/24/2026, 12:46:18 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 13 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Emotion, Politically Left Leaning Bias, and Overconfidence Bias, with Framing Effect as the most egregious example at 22.4% saturation with 332 hits. Analysis detected 1,759 faulty-reasoning hits from 1,484 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 55.7% and a BS Rank of 59% (8,711 of 21,198 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 58.90% of the article peer group.
There will be no new data centers constructed until we have laws on the books that ensure Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers, and water quality are completely protected
Mandela Barnes believes big tech companies are using AI to exploit Wisconsin families.
Barnes supports a moratorium on new data centers until regulations are in place.
He plans to repeal tax incentives for data centers and redirect funds to schools and childcare.
Barnes would require data centers to cover 100% of their costs, including utility and environmental impacts.
He advocates for banning non-disclosure agreements to ensure community input on data center projects.
Editor's Note: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel asked the leading Republican and Democratic candidates for governor to answer ten questions about the development and regulation of data centers in Wisconsin.
Five candidates completed the questionnaire.
Here is the response from Democrat Mandela Barnes:
Question: Artificial intelligence has been hailed as technology that could usher in a new era of prosperity or destroy civilization.
What is your view of AI and how will that shape your administration's approach to its usage in state government as well as regulating data centers?
Answer: Right now, big corporations — including trillion dollar big tech companies — are exploiting hardworking Wisconsin families because of AI.
Insurance companies are using AI to deny health care claims and raise premiums.
Large retailers like WalMart and Instacart are setting different prices for the same goods using AI based on your Internet history.
Trillion dollar tech giants are constructing massive data centers across the state while Wisconsinites hand over billions of dollars in subsidies.
I will do everything in my power as Governor to ensure billionaires and big corporations aren’t using AI to rip off our families.
I will ban AI price gouging, end tax breaks for companies who lay off workers due to AI, and ensure there is no new data center construction until there are regulatory laws on the books that ensure tech companies are covering 100% of the costs.
Question: City leaders in Port Washington say a new $15 billion data center will allow them to cut property taxes by about half.
Wisconsin union leaders tout data center construction contracts as solidifying thousands of jobs.
Is Wisconsin doing enough to attract this type of investment?
Answer: Wisconsin should not be handing billions of dollars in taxpayer money to trillion dollar big tech companies.
Right now, the state is providing over $2 billion to subsidize the construction of data centers.
That is money that could be going to fully fund our public schools and provide universal childcare, but instead is going to boost the profits of tech monopolies.
More: Janesville's former General Motors plant focus of data center debate
My story would not have been possible without my family’s good paying union jobs, and creating those jobs in our state is paramount to moving our state forward the Wisconsin Way.
One of the best ways we can create more union jobs while also lowering energy costs for Wisconsinites is through expanding renewable energy in our state.
This has been a central priority of my leadership and this campaign.
AI data center construction won't happen without guardrails
Question: Do you support a moratorium on new data center development?
Why or why not?
Answer: As Governor, I will ensure new data center construction does not happen until there are guardrails on the books that include a guarantee of 100% of costs — including any increase to utility costs — are covered by the company, union labor construction, vast community benefit agreements, full environmental review that shows no threat or damage to our water resources, and a ban on NDAs.
If a community does not want a data center, that should be respected.
We’ve seen these trillion dollar big tech companies try to take over every facet of our lives.
Social media companies that exacerbate the mental health crisis, AI companies that are leading to enormous job losses, and now these data centers represent the physical manifestation of this wave of corporate greed.
If a community does not want a data center, it shouldn’t be built — and Wisconsinites should never be on the hook for a dime of the costs.
Question: There were several bills to regulate data centers that died in the Legislature last session.
Do you think the state needs additional regulations?
What specifically would you propose or support?
If not, please explain why.
Answer: Yes.
We should not build a single new data center until we have laws on the books that ensure these trillion dollar tech companies are covering 100% of all costs.
These guardrails will require all utility costs are not passed onto ratepayers, require union labor, include vast community benefits agreements, be subject to full environmental review protecting our water resources, and ban secrecy deals or NDAs that cut communities out of the decision.
If a community doesn't want a data center, that should be respected.
Wisconsin must repeal tax giveaways to tech companies
Question: Should Wisconsin consider rolling back the sales and use tax incentives for data centers estimated to have already reached about $2 billion?
Please be specific about why or why not.
Answer: Yes.
Data centers are projected to cost Wisconsinites more than $2 billion due to the lost revenue, as well as nearly $400 million annually once the centers are up and running.
I will repeal those tax giveaways on day one and use that money to fully fund our schools and pass universal childcare.
If Wisconsinites do not want data centers, they shouldn’t be built here — and we shouldn’t be handing out billions of dollars in tax giveaways to trillion-dollar Big Tech companies.
More: Wisconsin must leverage its assets in data center deals | Opinion
Question: Are you convinced that data centers will not excessively draw down lake or groundwater levels or cause pollution with wastewater discharges?
Answer: There will be no new data centers constructed until we have laws on the books that ensure Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers, and water quality are completely protected and have strict regulatory standards.
All data centers must operate on closed-loop cooling systems that do not harm Wisconsin’s environment, or they won’t be built here.
Question: The demand for electricity for data centers has put a renewed focus on utility regulation.
What would you look for in prospective appointees to the Public Service Commission?
Answer: Companies like WE Energies have spent years building a revolving door between the utility industry and the very regulators who are supposed to hold them accountable.
They've poured money into political campaigns, including my opponents.
They've hired lobbyists to write the rules.
They've rigged the system from top to bottom.
When I am Governor, I will only appoint PSC commissioners who have proven to put the interests of Wisconsinites ahead of utility monopolies.
I will freeze utility rates and pass legislation that ensures big tech companies cover 100% of all utility costs for data center construction.
Question: Are you convinced, based on recent Public Service Commission rulings, that residential consumers and businesses won't shoulder some of the cost of new power plants and transmission lines for data centers?
Please explain why or why not.
Answer: Not at all — because our Public Service Commission is broken.
It is a revolving door between the utility industry and those who are supposed to be holding them accountable.
When I am Governor, there will not be a single new data center constructed until there are laws on the books that guarantee big tech companies and utility monopolies do not pass a single dime of costs onto ratepayers.
I will ban artificial intelligence data center NDAs and secrecy deals
Question: Is the process for recruiting, vetting and approving data centers transparent enough?
For instance, some public officials signed non-disclosure agreements.
How would you balance the need to protect proprietary information with the public's right-to-know?
Answer: I will ban NDAs and secrecy deals.
If a community doesn’t want a data center, it shouldn’t be built.
Right now, big tech companies are railroading communities into signing these deals without any community input.
That is unacceptable, and this statewide framework will require comprehensive community review and community benefit agreements before any data center is approved or constructed.
More: PSC rebuts Oracle's objection to data center finance rule
Question: Should communities have a direct voice through referendums on approving data centers if the tax incentives or footprint reach a certain size?
Since the impact of these businesses is not limited to the community where they operate, should other governmental bodies have a role in their approval?
Answer: They should have a direct voice at all levels of the decision-making process of data center approval and construction.
Billionaires and trillion dollar tech companies will use every tool in the book to exploit communities unless there is a real opportunity for community input.
Analysis
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