FixHBG-RURAL

A small Wisconsin town just made a move that shocked America voting 44-0 to unanimously ban data centers in favor of farmland. A $1 billion facility proposed by an anonymous developer almost overtook Cassville, Wisconsin with plans to install hyperscale AI data centers. Residents were never told who would build it or exactly where it would go. What they did know was the scale • approximately 500 acres of prime farmland (Driftless) • 400 to 500 megawatts of power • promises of 50 jobs and $5.5 million in annual property tax revenue The result was unambiguous: 44 votes in favor of banning data centers, zero against. The Driftless Area is not generic farmland as it was never covered by glaciers during the last ice age, making it prime for food production. Organic Valley, the largest organic dairy cooperative in the United States, was founded and is headquartered in La Farge, Wisconsin, at the heart of the Driftless. Locals knew it actively resists industrial farming, making it a refuge for small-scale, organic, and artisanal agriculture. This is is part of a rapidly expanding, largely decentralized movement of rural communities protecting their land and resources from Big Tech's infrastructure buildout. Beyond municipal action, individual farmers across the country are rejecting offers that would have seemed inconceivable just five years ago. Over the next five years, an estimated 40,000 acres of powered land will be needed globally for new data center development. Farmland converted to data centers is permanently removed from agricultural production. Supporting our local farmers is how we can all be part of the movement.

📣 SCOTUS issued a ruling in the Louisiana redistricting case that narrows the Voting Rights Act. 🗳️ I’m sharing my statement and highlighting SB 131, which I introduced as prime sponsor with 22 co‑sponsors and bipartisan support to strengthen fair representation.