Non-disclosure agreements, energy costs focus of data center hearing • Wisconsin Examiner

Wisconsin lawmakers held a public hearing on three bills to regulate data centers, including a bipartisan measure (SB 969) banning non-disclosure agreements between data center companies and municipalities, and two competing proposals aimed at ensuring data centers pay their own electricity costs rather than shifting them to ratepayers. The Democratic bill (SB 729) would create a new "very large customer" utility rate class, require quarterly energy reporting, and tie tax exemptions to renewable energy and prevailing wage standards, while the Republican bill (AB 840/SB 843) directs the Public Service Commission to protect ratepayers and requires on-site renewable energy and water recycling. The Citizens Utility Board urged bipartisan compromise, citing Wisconsin's second-highest electricity rates in the Midwest and the need for ratepayer affordability protections.