Wisconsin Data Center News

Feb 5, 2026

What’s up with data centers in Minnesota?

Fresh Energy calls on Minnesota regulators and the Public Utilities Commission to adopt policies ensuring data center development benefits Minnesotans and aligns with the state’s 100% clean electricity by 2040 law.

Main announcement / action: Fresh Energy urges the Commission to implement better load forecasting, rate design (large-load tariffs), and transparency on water and behind-the-meter generation to ensure data centers pay their fair share; Minnesota currently has 13 operating data centers with 43 MW of capacity and 12 planned projects totaling 1,120 MW (as of January 2026). Key regulatory actions already in motion include Xcel Energy’s large-load tariff filed July 2025 and the Commission requiring Dakota Electric to file an additional tariff in December 2025.
Background and details: Fresh Energy cites national context such as data center investment growth from $13.8 billion to $41.2 billion per year and nearly 100 GW of proposed behind-the-meter gas plants nationwide; it recommends using IRP updates, stochastic/scenario-based forecasting, and tariff rate classes so utilities do not overbuild infrastructure or shift costs to residential customers.

Feb 2, 2026

AI Data Centers Need Skilled People: Oracle Academy Helps Build AI Careers

Oracle has announced a programmatic expansion pairing AI data center investments with education and workforce training through Oracle Academy.

Main announcement: Oracle is building AI data centers across the United States and hiring thousands of skilled employees, while Oracle Academy will bridge the talent gap by launching Data Center Technician courses to fast-track candidates into frontline roles; targeted states named include Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Background and program details: Oracle Academy (nearly 30 years of operation) provides curriculum, cloud technologies, software, and hands-on labs; recent launches include AI and machine learning in Java, generative AI workshops, and hands-on analytics and AI labs. In Texas Oracle Academy works with more than 130 institutions and nearly 350 faculty members; New Mexico partnerships include New Mexico State University and University of New Mexico.

Jan 30, 2026

Oracle may slash up to 30,000 jobs to fund AI data-center expansion as US banks retreat

Oracle is considering workforce cuts and selling Cerner to alleviate financing pressure, according to TD Cowen.

Main action: TD Cowen reports Oracle is weighing 20,000–30,000 job cuts (to free $8–$10 billion in cash flow) and a potential sale of Cerner (acquired for $28.3 billion in 2022) to address financing shortfalls tied to an estimated $156 billion infrastructure capital requirement.
Background/details:US banks have pulled back from financing Oracle-linked data-center projects (raising borrowing costs and stalling leases); Oracle raised ~$58 billion of debt recently ($38 billion for Texas and Wisconsin facilities; $20 billion for New Mexico), while Asian banks remain willing to lend at premium rates; TD Cowen highlights slowed US data-center procurement and measures Oracle is pursuing such as 40% upfront deposits and BYOC arrangements.

Jan 29, 2026

The Data Center Surge Has a Hidden Source of Carbon Emissions

Tech companies are becoming buyers of low-carbon concrete as US data center construction surges.

Main announcement: Major tech firms (notably Microsoft and Amazon) are securing low-carbon concrete supply and forming buyer coalitions to reduce embodied emissions in data center construction; Microsoft agreed to purchase up to 622,500 metric tons of cement from Sublime Systems over six to nine years, and Amazon has a deal with Brimstone and is using low-carbon concrete in data centers in Virginia and Oregon.
Background and details:RMI projects data center expansion through 2030 will require 2 million metric tons of cement (traditional concrete would emit 1.9 million metric tons CO2); the Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance was launched in September by RMI and the Center for Green Market Activation with members including Amazon, Meta, and Prologis; the Inflation Reduction Act had earmarked roughly $1.6 billion for green concrete support which was later pulled, and Sublime cited an $87 million government funding loss and paused its Holyoke factory (laid off 10% of staff).

Jan 29, 2026

Madison, Wis. Joins Growing List of Cities Pausing Data Center Development

The Madison Common Council has approved a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data center development.

Scope & duration: The moratorium applies to new data centers and telecommunications centers larger than 10,000 square feet and will remain in effect for one year; existing facilities and smaller data centers are exempt. The city said the pause will allow staff to review zoning rules, electricity and water use, land use planning, and community benefits before approving additional projects.
Implementation & context: Planning Division Director Meagan Tuttle described the moratorium as a planning tool to develop clearer standards as demand for computing power (driven by artificial intelligence and cloud services) grows; the city plans to engage utilities, environmental experts, developers, and policymakers during the moratorium. The article also references similar moratoria in other U.S. jurisdictions (Coweta County, Douglas County, Clarke County, Springfield Township, St. Charles).

Jan 26, 2026

EPA moves toward changing particulate matter standard as manufacturers urge action

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to revisit and ask the court to vacate the Biden-era annual PM2.5 standard of nine micrograms per cubic meter.

Main action: The EPA filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit asking the court to vacate the March 2024 PM2.5 annual standard (lowered from 12 µg/m3 to 9 µg/m3). The agency said the Biden EPA took a “regulatory shortcut” and failed to adequately consider compliance costs; EPA urged vacatur before the initial nonattainment determinations due on Feb. 7 and states’ implementation plans due in April.
Background and details: Industry groups including NAM and 15 trade associations (e.g., SMA, Aluminum Association, American Cement Association) have pressed the Trump administration to revert the standard; EPA previously estimated the 2024 rule could prevent 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost workdays, with monetized benefits of $22 billion to $46 billion and $590 million in estimated costs by 2032. A 2025 ACA report estimated 1 million metric tons of cement needed for AI data centers by 2028 and projects U.S. data centers rising from 5,426 to 6,000 by 2027.

Jan 26, 2026

Oracle AI Infrastructure in 2026 and Our Commitment to Local Communities

Oracle has announced its 2026 AI infrastructure buildout and community commitments.

Main announcement: Oracle announced AI data center projects in 2026 in partnership with OpenAI, with campuses at two sites in Texas and additional sites in New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Michigan; Oracle commits to funding onsite power and grid upgrades (including onsite transmission lines, battery storage, and dedicated substations) and to use closed-loop non-evaporative cooling so water usage is on par with a typical office building.
Background and details: The company states it will pay its own way on energy when required or invest in grid improvements where sharing the grid; sites include extensive landscape screening and setbacks, planned road infrastructure upgrades funded by Oracle, and workforce commitments: tens of thousands employed during construction and thousands during operation (Oracle estimates a ~1 GW site requires more than 1,000 permanent employees).

Jan 24, 2026

Environmental Coalition Calls For Pause In Data Center Development

The Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin has called for a pause on data center development in Wisconsin and released a proposed 10-point framework for regulating large-scale projects, urging the governor and Legislature to adopt it before additional projects proceed.

Main announcement: The Clean Economy Coalition of Wisconsin (CECW) asks the state to pause further data center development until a comprehensive framework is adopted; the group released a 10-point policy framework that includes 100% clean energy, planning for future energy infrastructure needs, minimizing water use, community benefits agreements, prevailing wage requirements, and consistent reporting requirements for environmental impact and energy use.
Context and specifics: The framework is presented in contrast to a Republican-backed Assembly bill that recently passed the Assembly and would direct the Public Service Commission to prevent residential ratepayers from covering energy infrastructure costs for data centers and require on-site renewable generation at new data centers; critics including State Rep. Robyn Vining called the bill “rushed” and say the renewables-on-property provision could lock centers into fossil-fuel-backed power.

Jan 23, 2026

Oracle Advances American AI Innovation and Local Economic Prosperity in New Mexico

Oracle announced it will be the tenant of Project Jupiter, an AI data center campus in southern New Mexico, and that it will occupy the campus to deploy AI infrastructure for OpenAI.

Main announcement and commitments: Oracle will be the tenant of Project Jupiter and will deploy AI infrastructure for OpenAI; the company projects an economic boost of approximately $384 million per year during construction and $113 million per year once operational; it plans $360 million in direct payments to Doña Ana County, $50 million for water system fixes, over $600 million in Gross Revenue Tax payments expected to the State and County, and supplemental community investments of $6.9 million (including a $1.5 million donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Las Cruces). Oracle and partners now expect ~4,000 construction jobs and up to 1,500 onsite or county jobs (versus earlier forecasts of 2,500 construction and 750 permanent jobs). Oracle will fund and build a dedicated microgrid, onsite transmission lines, battery storage, and a dedicated substation; installed pollution controls will exceed US EPA’s new standards by 50% or more.
Project details and background: The campus will use a closed-loop, non-evaporative cooling system that does not draw from local water supplies (water tanks filled once); daily operational water use will be comparable to a typical office building. Oracle Academy is expanding in New Mexico and partnering with local institutions (New Mexico State University, Doña Ana Community College) for workforce development. The article is an announcement/op-ed by Josh Pitcock (Jan 23, 2026) and contains forward-looking statements referencing Oracle’s SEC filings.

Jan 22, 2026

Microsoft Commits to Full Electricity Cost Recovery in Data Center Communities

Microsoft has announced a “Community-First AI Infrastructure” initiative committing to “paying its way” so AI data center growth does not raise residential utility rates.

Main announcement/action: Microsoft will ask utilities and state commissions to set bespoke large-load rates that recover full electricity and infrastructure costs so datacenter electricity costs are not passed to residential customers, will directly fund grid upgrades, pursue efficiency improvements (e.g., liquid cooling, Project Forge scheduler), and advocate for accelerated permitting and interconnection. The announcement was published in a Jan. 13, 2026 policy blog by Brad Smith and cites concrete examples including co-designing a 2016 Large Power Contract Service tariff with Black Hills Energy (Wyoming PSC), supporting We Energies’ March 2025 “Very Large Customer” tariff (Wisconsin), and contracting 7.9 GW of new supply in the MISO footprint.
Background and additional details: Microsoft frames the move amid mounting grid constraints (aging transmission, long permitting timelines, supply chain shortages) and contrasts its approach with an E3 study commissioned by Amazon that reports a projected $33,500/MW surplus in 2025 (~$3.4M per 100‑MW site) and $6.1M per 100‑MW by 2030. The article also notes regulatory momentum: FERC’s Dec. 18, 2025 order directing PJM to overhaul co-located large-load rules (tariff filing due Feb. 16, 2026) and a Jan. 15, 2026 PJM governors’ Statement of Principles calling for large-load cost-sharing and a reliability backstop auction by September 2026.

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