Republican lawmakers outline proposal creating guidelines for potential data centers in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Republican lawmakers outlined their new proposal Monday, that would create guidelines for data centers looking to build in Wisconsin.

The proposal was circulated last week by Representative Shannon Zimmerman and Senator Romaine Quinn. 

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos joined co-sponsors of the bill in Franklin Monday to talk about it. 

The bill would require the Public Service Commission to ensure any electric costs for data centers aren't passed on to taxpayers. Under the bill, renewable energy facilities that serve the centers must be on site. 

It also requires centers to use closed-loop cooling systems that would recycle water, and to post bonds to cover costs for abandoned projects. 

"The goal today is to not to demonize data centers, as some have wanted to do across the state," Speaker Vos said. "It's really a four-part strategy to make sure that we protect rate payers from increasing electricity costs, we protect landowners to guarantee that they have some say, and hopefully, if the data center doesn't happen, they have a return. We protect the environment by saying we have to have a closed loop system with water and to make sure that the land is protected. And most importantly, we have the opportunity to guarantee that we don't have these massive projects taking land throughout the state for renewable mandates." 

Democratic lawmakers are also creating bills to regulate data centers. One proposed in November would require centers to fund renewable energy projects and report energy and water usage to the state, among other requirements.