KAUKAUNA — Although no data center developer has currently approached the city about a project in Kaukauna, candidates for mayor in the spring election are speaking out.
Mayor Tony Penterman confirmed on Wednesday that the council is hoping to get out in front of the issue with a proposed ordinance amendment that would require an extra layer of review if a data center should want to build in Kaukauna’s Industrial District.
For his part, challenger Daniel Schafer told Kaukauna Community News that he’s not sure that a data center would be a good fit for the community.
“I don’t feel the the infrastructure that we currently have would be suitable for the power that it is going to require to operate the facility, along with the water consumption that they use to keep the servers cool,” Schafer said.
Even though Schafer says it would create revenue for the city and new jobs as well, he says it’s his opinion that it wouldn’t work for Kaukauna.
Penterman said their will be a public hearing during the upcoming common council meeting regarding the proposed ordinance amendment.
Those additional restrictions could include electric and water usage.
That would give the city the ability to thoroughly vet any requests to ensure that there are no negative impacts to the community, Penterman said.
There will be a public hearing at the common council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. to hear from residents who wish to speak for or against the amendment to the ordinance.
