Wisconsin Data Center Intel

Recent Wisconsin data center news

• Jun 4, 2026

  Data Center Developers Bring Biodiversity to Life in Site Selection

  Vantage Data Centers and Ramboll have used biodiversity modeling to shape design of the proposed 672-acre Lighthouse Campus in Port Washington, Wisconsin, projecting up to a 60% increase in biodiversity relative to the site’s baseline ecological condition, as reported in environmental review documents filed with Wisconsin regulators.

  • Main action: Vantage and Ramboll applied Ramboll’s Americas Biodiversity Metric during pre-construction design to guide native prairie conversion, wetland enhancement, pollinator-focused landscaping, ecological stormwater features, and habitat restoration; the modeling moved the target from an initial 40% biodiversity increase toward a modeled 60% potential improvement.
  • Background and context: The analysis is part of environmental review filings with Wisconsin regulators and is presented as a design-guiding tool (used during site selection and due diligence) rather than a final, legally mandated commitment; the metric is informed by biodiversity net-gain methodologies used in the United Kingdom and adoption in North America remains voluntary and variable.
• Jun 3, 2026

  Solid Flow, Strong Future

  CMBlu Energy (Giovanni Damato) described current operations, near‑term manufacturing projects, and pilot deployments for its aqueous solid‑flow long‑duration battery technology in a podcast interview (transcript of a Troutman Pepper “Battery + Storage” episode).

  • Main announcement: CMBlu is operating pilot manufacturing and R&D in Germany, is constructing a 4 GWh facility in Greece (with EU funding) targeted to start production as early as end of 2027, and plans to replicate a 4 GWh commercial facility in the U.S. with U.S. manufacturing partners targeting U.S. production start in 2028; the company is also building U.S. supply‑chain content to pursue domestic content bonuses under U.S. clean energy tax incentives.
  • Background and project details: CMBlu described an active 5 MW / 50 MWh pilot with Salt River Project (SRP) in the Phoenix area to demonstrate scaling toward very large data center loads, noted an existing commercial deployment with Mercedes‑Benz in Germany, and a pilot colocated with WEC in Milwaukee; the technology is aqueous (≈40% water / 60% solid), nonflammable, modular (standard ~10‑hour block, configurable 5–12+ hours), and intended to meet FEOC/domestic content requirements via local feedstock and U.S. manufacturing plans.
• Jun 3, 2026

  Alsym Energy partners with Re:Build Manufacturing to scale US Na-ion BESS

  Alsym Energy has announced an MOU with Re:Build Manufacturing to develop commercial-scale Na-ion battery cell manufacturing in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.

  • MOU signed 2 June: combine Alsym’s Na-ion BESS technology with Re:Build’s manufacturing capabilities at Re:Build’s existing facility in New Kensington, Pennsylvania; domestic-first approach to maximise tax benefits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including the 45X advanced manufacturing production credit, while reducing logistical lead times and shipping costs.
  • Background and related deals: CEO Mukesh Chatter highlighted end markets including AI data centres, utilities, commercial real estate and emphasized a non-FEOC supply chain compliant with tax credit and defense procurement rules. This follows Alsym’s May 500MWh strategic partnership with Juniper Energy and an April LOI with ESS Tech Inc for 8.5GWh; other US Na-ion activity referenced includes Peak Energy’s 3.1MWh pilot at RWE’s Eastern Wisconsin lab and Hithium’s prior BESS announcements at RE+.
• Jun 1, 2026 · Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

  Targeted Pressure: How Chinese Manufacturing Competition Impacts US States

  The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has published a report finding Chinese industrial policy is reshaping global manufacturing and harming industries across every U.S. state.

  • Main finding & method: The ITIF report (June 1, 2026) analyzes one “national power industry” per state using County Business Patterns employment data, HS/SITC export proxies, and global market-share series to conclude that state-backed Chinese subsidies, export pushes, and overcapacity are driving down prices and pressuring U.S. producers in sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, aircraft, and fabricated metals.
  • Key facts, numbers, and timelines:China plans ~$150 billion in semiconductor investment through 2030 vs. $52 billion under the U.S. CHIPS funding; the report cites $63.3 billion Chinese semiconductor spending in H1 2025, TSMC’s $165 billion U.S. investment announcement, GE Appliances’ $490 million Appliance Park investment (2025), and state/national export shares and HS-code trade series used throughout the analyses.
• May 29, 2026

  The Breaking Points: Water Is the New Constraint for AI Data Centers

  Data Center Knowledge reports that water infrastructure constraints are emerging as a major limit on AI data center expansion.

  • Main finding: Large AI data center proposals are requesting multi‑MGD water capacities (example: a Virginia campus requested up to 2 MGD initially, with potential future demand up to 8 MGD) and explicitly require continuous evaporative cooling for uninterrupted operations; these projected demands often exceed municipal water and wastewater planning assumptions.
  • Background and specifics: Researchers’ paper “Small Bottle, Big Pipe” estimates U.S. data centers could require 697 million to 1.45 billion gallons/day of new water capacity through 2030; Texas’ draft 2027 State Water Plan estimates roughly $174 billion in water infrastructure projects may be needed over the next 50 years to meet growing AI demand and related upgrades (reservoirs, treatment, reclaimed-water networks).
• May 22, 2026

  Texas Powers Past Virginia in Global Data Center Rankings

  Cushman & Wakefield has announced Dallas as the No.1 primary data center market globally in its latest Global Data Center Market Comparison report.

  • Main announcement: The report ranks Dallas as the No. 1 primary data center market, followed by Atlanta, Virginia, Columbus, and Johor, and reports capacity under construction ~31.7 GW (2025) versus 12.5 GW in the prior edition; the study examined 107 global markets using 24 variables and places greater emphasis on near- and mid-term scalability and power constraints.
  • Background and details: Cushman highlights power delivery timelines (~5 years in Americas/EMEA, ~2.7 years in APAC) and the shift to bring-your-own-power/on-site generation; firms and projects cited include OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank’s Stargate (Abilene/West Texas), Meta (El Paso), Google (pledged $40 billion in US infrastructure investment) and Soluna; the note also contrasts Northern Virginia, Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, and Dublin as markets facing tighter utility and transmission constraints while Texas/ERCOT offers more developable land and generation/transmission pipeline.
• May 19, 2026

  Three Rural Providers Band Together To Build 2,000-Mile Fiber Route

  Dakota Carrier Network, Range and WIN Technology announced a joint $700 million investment to build the Heartland Fiber Project expanding high-capacity fiber across the American heartland.

  • Main announcement: The three providers committed $700 million to deploy the Heartland Fiber Project across Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois; construction begins this summer with deployment expected over the next one to two years and the network will include high-fiber-count infrastructure and additional conduit capacity to scale bandwidth for AI hyperscale data center demand.
  • Background and details: The project targets markets offering available power, land and lower cooling costs to attract hyperscalers; CEOs Rob Johnstone (Range) and Seth Arndorfer (Dakota Carrier Network) framed the deal as improving scale/resiliency and competitiveness for hyperscaler investment. The article also references Zayo’s recent acquisition of Crown Castle fiber assets as sector context.
• May 18, 2026

  NextEra Will Buy Dominion Energy in Largest-Ever Electric Utility Deal

  NextEra Energy has announced it will buy Dominion Energy in an all-stock deal valued at about $67 billion.

  • Deal terms and governance: NextEra shareholders will own 74.5% of the combined company and Dominion investors 25.5%; the combined company will trade under NextEra on the NYSE as NEE, own 110 GW of generation capacity, and have a board consisting of 10 NextEra and 4 Dominion directors. The announcement was made on May 18; John Ketchum will serve as chairman and CEO and Robert Blue as president and CEO of regulated utilities.
  • Financial and operational details: The transaction value is about $67 billion; NextEra reported an enterprise value of about $303 billion (about one-third debt) and Dominion an enterprise value of about $111 billion (about $50 billion in debt). The companies highlighted commitments including bill credits, continued investments in generation, reliability and storm resiliency, and retention of dual headquarters in Juno Beach, Florida and Richmond, Virginia.
• May 18, 2026

  Oklahoma Law Opens New Front in AI Data Center Power Fight

  Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed HB 2992 – the “Data Center Consumer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026.”

  • Main action: The law requires large-load customers that add 75 MW or more of demand to sign long-term agreements to cover infrastructure costs tied to their projects (rather than spreading those costs across the general rate base); the law takes effect July 1, 2026 and also adds transparency and disclosure requirements for land acquisition and development related to large-load projects.
  • Background and context: The bill was supported by utilities such as OGE Energy Corp (OG&E) (which highlighted an agreement with Google, noting Google has committed to covering 100% of grid connection and new generation infrastructure costs for its three data centers); the law aligns with broader state actions (e.g., Wisconsin PSC changes, North Carolina proposals) and sits alongside federal jurisdiction issues in the Southwest Power Pool / FERC context.
• May 17, 2026

  Reports Say NextEra in Talks to Acquire Dominion Energy

  NextEra Energy is reportedly in talks to acquire Dominion Energy.

  • Deal details and timing: The article reports a potential mostly-stock transaction valuing Dominion at about $66 billion, with analysts saying NextEra would offer about 0.8 of its own shares for each Dominion share plus some cash; the deal could be announced as soon as May 18. Analysts also estimate NextEra shareholders would own about three-quarters of the combined company.
  • Background and financial context: The report includes company valuations and finances: NextEra enterprise value ≈ $303 billion (≈1/3 debt); Dominion enterprise value ≈ $111 billion (≈$50 billion debt); NextEra market cap ≈ $195 billion, Southern Co. ≈ $104 billion; the article references related transactions and infrastructure investments (e.g., Duane Arnold restart investment > $800 million, Crossroads-Hobbs-Roadrunner transmission $291.6 million).