A small Wisconsin city voted on the country’s first referendum to curb data center development. (Politico)
The measure, which landed on Port Washington residents’ ballots yesterday, wouldn't kill the proposed $15B, 1.3-GW “Stargate” campus set for the city backed by OpenAI, Oracle, and the White House. But going forward, it would require voter approval before the city can award large tax incentives to developers.
More referenda to come: This year, at least three other communities, including towns in CA, MI, and southern WI, have data center-related ballot measures coming up.
Meanwhile in Indianapolis: A city council member who publicly backed rezoning for a data center project said more than a dozen bullets were fired at his home Monday, with a handwritten note reading “No Data Centers” left on his doorstep.