A proposal for a new edge data center in Beaver Dam was reviewed by the city’s Common Council earlier this week. The project, put forward by Oppidan Investment Co., outlines plans for a 90,000-square-foot facility to be built at the intersection of U.S. Highway 151 and Hemlock Road on a 13-acre city-owned lot. If approved, the new development will neighbor Meta’s massive $1 billion artificial intelligence-focused data center, currently under construction.

Key Proposal Details

The proposal was presented by Trent Campbell, the executive director of the Beaver Dam Area Development Corporation, alongside Oppidan’s Peter Carbonneau. According to Campbell, the city-owned land for the project would be sold to Oppidan for $31,000 per acre. Notably, the development will not involve tax incremental district incentives, as confirmed by Campbell.

"This project is significantly smaller than the past data center project, however you should still expect that there will be many people from all over Wisconsin attending to speak on the proposal", wrote Larry Bierke, the city administrator, in a staff memo.

Once operational, the edge data center is projected to consume less than 20 megawatts of electricity at peak load - substantially less than the 100 MW expected from the neighboring Meta data center. Water usage for the facility is estimated at approximately 5,920 gallons per day, a figure Campbell compared to the average daily consumption of a restaurant, which is around 6,000 gallons.

Timeline and Next Steps

While the Common Council did not take immediate action on the proposal, Bierke indicated that a draft development agreement would likely be brought forward for discussion during the March 2 meeting.

On the utility side, Kimberly Mueller of Alliant Energy confirmed that the company has provided a letter detailing the requirements for providing electricity to the proposed data center. Mueller stated that once a formal application is submitted, Alliant Energy would conduct an engineering review to finalize service dates and associated costs.

Community Concerns and Transparency

At the recent meeting, around a dozen residents voiced concerns regarding the project. Key issues raised included transparency, potential pollution, impacts on electricity bills, and effects on property values. However, Campbell clarified that the developer has not required nondisclosure agreements with the city, aiming to address some of the transparency concerns.

The proposal is the latest development in Beaver Dam’s growing data center landscape, following the significant investment by Meta in its nearby facility. If approved, the smaller edge data center could further enhance the region's digital infrastructure while addressing the city’s commitment to economic growth.

The Beaver Dam Common Council will continue to review the project and its potential impacts in the coming weeks. A decision on the draft development agreement is expected to be a key milestone in the process. For now, residents and stakeholders alike will watch closely as the proposal progresses toward potential approval.

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