LETTER: Wages paid builders of data center uplift Port’s economy

To Ozaukee Press:

I’ve been working in Wisconsin’s construction trades for decades. As I approach retirement, I’m proud to be moving Wisconsin into the future as an operating engineer working at the Lighthouse data center project in Port Washington.

The Lighthouse project may be the last job I will work before retiring. As a heavy equipment operator and long-time member of the Operating Engineers Local 139, I’ve had a good career building our state. Construction jobs, which are portrayed as temporary by those who don’t know better, are good-paying, benefit-providing, career-long jobs.

My career is proof of that. Whether it’s building Wisconsin’s roads, energy infrastructure or projects of the future—like data centers—the trades men and women of our state are proud of our contributions and legacy.

The Lighthouse data center is no different. My paycheck from the project supports the state and local economies. Whether it’s gas, restaurants or my favorite restaurant in Port Washington, the money I make is spent right here in Wisconsin and Port Washington.

The data center project in Port Washington is directly benefiting thousands of people just like me, and we’re proud to help advance our state into the future of technology.

Terry Skinkis

Brookfield