Data center misinformation on social media in Wisconsin Rapids

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – Conversations are happening in Wisconsin Rapids around data centers, many of them on social media. Mayor Matt Zacher tells WFHR the comments aren’t always factual.

“ I think things can be taken out of context and then blown up, and then you just talk about them and create situations that aren’t actually true,” says Zacher. “Like most of what’s going on out there is not true.”

Zacher says the City has a similar involvement in the data center decision like they would any business coming into the area, but it is an agreement between private entities. The company, PCH WI Holdings LLC, submitted a Conditional Use Application to the City.

“ We have a system that’s set up in place, and we have to file the paperwork, and that’s what we do in order to get them to the public hearings, the planning commission, the council, to let them set up a business here,” explains Zacher.

 ”We don’t have any connection to this database company as the government,” he continues.

The role of government

The mayor said he is catching heat for what he describes as the role of government.

“ …what people are saying is, “I, as the mayor, have the power to say yes to that person and no to that person or company,” and that’s not the way it’s set up, and that’s not the way I ever want it to be set up again,” says Zacher. “We’ve come a long way from dictatorships and, and we don’t wanna necessarily go back there.”

Zacher says overall it’s good that the decision on this particular data center is being delayed. His overarching goal is to see the mill site contributing to the community again.

 ”But in the end, what I’ve always said is I’m not for or against data centers. I don’t have a dog in that fight. I don’t care. So let me make that very clear again. I don’t care if a data center comes here or not,” stresses Zacher. “What I do care about is we have an abundance of industrial land that’s being cleared, and it’s got an abundance of electricity that’s being sat idle that can help CWPCo out, which is Consolidated Water and Power, build a stronger company so they can invest more money in the dams that we depend greatly on staying safe and secure for the long haul, like hundreds of years down the road, not just today and tomorrow.”

Informational meetings in the community

The mayor and various council members have attended meetings and gatherings in town over the past several weeks. Mayor Zacher responded to comments he received after his interview with Mike Leischner on WSAU.

“Again, when I said people from around other parts of the country and state, this is an effort that’s going on around the country in terms of trying to block data centers,” Zacher said. “Rightly so, because the information that’s out there, there’s more bad than good as far as I can tell.” 

The South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development invited multiple experts and comedian Charlie Berens to give a presentation last month.

“So ultimately, if there was a success in this, it’s that the community slowed down the process,” says the mayor. “We heard them. We said, “Let’s get more information. Let’s slow it down.” So in the end, everything’s working exactly the way it should.”

The City is working on a press release detailing the process up till now and what will or won’t be happening next. Mayor Zacher says it will be released soon.