In coming years, the City of Beaver Dam, Wis., might have a new, massive data center development on about 520 acres of farmland on the city's north side, with easy access to transportation networks in the area.
“The Beaver Dam Area Development Corporation, the city of Beaver Dam and Alliant Energy are working in partnership on a potential data center project,” BDADC’s Executive Vice President Trent Campbell wrote in the statement, reports WKOW. “While this project has yet to be finalized, significant progress has been made.”
At its November meeting, the Beaver Dam Common Council approved the creation of a tax incremental district encompassing the entire property of the proposed data center. The district is intended to incentivize development at the site. A presentation by city staff estimated the district would create $567.6 million worth of construction over two phases of building that would conclude in 2028 and 2031.
In December, the council met in closed session to consider a development agreement with Degras LLC, which it approved unanimously.
“The entity we are working with is currently attempting to obtain non-local project approvals,” Campbell said in the statement. The city is not publicly naming which company will be the end beneficiary of the proposed data center. “Any future development will be dependent on the success of those efforts.”
One such effort is an application by the American Transmission Company to the state Public Service Commission. The company is asking for approval to expand electrical service to the site. Data centers have made headlines for the immense amount of power they draw.