LETTER: Mr. Mayor, go to bat for city to limit data center pollution

To Ozaukee Press:

There have been many words printed in Ozaukee Press and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel concerning the lawsuit filed against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource by Midwest Environmental Advocates on behalf of Sierra Club Wisconsin regarding its handling of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for Vantage Data Centers in Port Washington.

It was reported that Vantage believed “that a study of the environmental impacts of its data center was a threat to the project moving forward.” The reporting included quotes from a text from a Vantage representative to Port Washington Mayor Ted Neitzke in September 2025 saying that an EIS would “kill the project” and that  “Neitzke responded that he would meet with the secretary of the DNR days later.”

According to the lawsuit, the DNR did not post a proper EIS and did not hold a public comment period or public hearing on the document.

The lawsuit claims the data centers’ diesel-fueled backup generators will “emit hazardous pollutants that are harmful to health and the environment” and that the DNR is not requiring Vantage to use the best available pollution controls.

I propose that Mayor Neitzke, who seems to have a very good relationship with Vantage and perhaps is owed a favor by them, insist that the data centers use the most effective technology available to reduce the hazardous pollutants from the diesel-fueled generators. I believe this is the least he could do for the people of Port Washington.

Mr. Mayor, the ball is in your court.  Do something to help your city.

Geri Zehren

Port Washington