Megan Wittman, megan.wittman@sierraclub.org
Milwaukee, WISCONSIN – Sierra Club’s newest report, Demanding Better, details pathways and policies from new large load customers like data centers, such as Microsoft’s, to meet the increased demand for electricity while decreasing climate pollution. Microsoft’s new data center in Mount Pleasant, a $3.3 billion investment to expand cloud computing and AI infrastructure, will demand increased energy needs and is being scapegoated as a primary reason for We Energies’ new methane gas plans.
We Energies, the largest and most profitable utility in the state, and Wisconsin Public Service have cited Microsoft's new data center in the area as a large reason for its plans to build 3,000 megawatts (MWs) of new gas over the next two years. Clean Wisconsin, Sierra Club, and other organizations penned a letter to Microsoft calling on the tech company to power its new data center with local clean energy.
“It’s no surprise that We Energies will find any excuse to double down on false solutions like methane gas, including blaming Microsoft’s new data center. But make no mistake: We Energies expanding methane gas will only worsen disproportionate energy burdens and pollute our communities. We need tech companies like Microsoft to continue its commitment to renewable energy here in Wisconsin, and we need We Energies and other utilities to meet the very clear growing demand for clean energy,” said Cassie Steiner, Senior Campaign Coordinator.
Methane gas (which the industry calls “‘natural’ gas”) is 80 times more destructive to our climate than coal and releases pollutants including methane and nitrogen oxides that impact people’s health, causing coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, reduced lung function, and respiratory inflammation. From 2021-2023, Milwaukee County had the highest rates of asthma hospitalizations in Wisconsin.
Demanding Better details pathways and policies for new large load customers like data centers, technology manufacturers, and electrifying industries. Many of the largest tech companies like Microsoft have climate goals and want clean energy, but the reality is their impact on the grid is stunting recent gains in the ongoing transition to clean energy.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.