NEWS: This week, voters took the wheel on local energy and data center decisions.

In Phoenix, a clean energy slate won an eight-to-six majority on the board of Arizona’s largest public utility. The typically low-stakes race drew national attention from groups on the left (Jane Fonda and Sierra Club) and right (Turning Point USA). The new majority’s agenda: a quicker renewable buildout, rooftop solar incentives, and higher rates for data center loads. All critical for an area short on water supply. 

In Wisconsin, Port Washington voters approved a referendum requiring public sign-off for certain large development incentives. The motivation? In November, the city council approved a tax break for a multi-billion-dollar data center campus. Now, 70% of Wisconsinites say data center costs outweigh the benefits, up from 55% in October, a Marquette poll found.