Sierra Club Wisconsin and Partners Applaud Public Service Commission Requiring Transparency in Alliant Beaver Dam Data Center Contract

MADISON, Wis. — The Public Service Commission (PSC) is considering an Individual Contract Rate Agreement (Docket 6680-TE-115) in which Alliant Energy is attempting to gain approval of a contract with a data center developer building a large facility in Beaver Dam, widely assumed to be its customer, Meta. The docket has drawn significant scrutiny from intervenors, advocacy organizations and community members due to the extensive contract redactions, which have been the only versions available to the public.

The PSC is now requiring Alliant Energy to refile its contract with the Beaver Dam data center with fewer redactions, after advocates and members of the public voiced concerns about the lack of transparency in the process.

In response, the Power Wisconsin Forward coalition released the following statements:

Cassie Steiner, Sierra Club – Wisconsin Chapter

“We applaud the Public Service Commission for listening to the demand for more transparency, and Judge Newmark’s requirement for Alliant to refile. Alliant Energy customers deserve to know how this contract will affect their energy bills and need basic information to adequately weigh in on the proposed contract. We look forward to seeing the Commission continue to listen to Wisconsinites and require that Big Tech pay its fair share and deny any discounts for data centers. Also, if we’re going to welcome very large customers, we need clear rules that apply across the board. We continue to call on the Public Service Commission to require Alliant Energy to refile this request under a Very Large Customer tariff to ensure transparency, consistency, and fairness for families and small businesses.”

Abby Novinska-Lois, Healthy Climate Wisconsin

“Rising energy costs force some families to forgo essential medications or healthcare needs. Wisconsin communities deserve transparency on how data center and utility contracts will affect them. Judge Newmark’s decision to require Alliant Energy to share basic details with the public is a step forward. Wisconsinites can weigh in through public comment now and demand that this step becomes a clear path towards far stronger safeguards.”

Britnie Remer, Organizing Director, 350 Wisconsin

“With so much information hidden from view, the public was unable to determine whether this contract protects ratepayers, prevents cost-shifting to families and small businesses, guarantees the data center pays its full costs, or keeps Wisconsin on track to meet its clean energy and climate commitments. We appreciate the PSC’s request of Alliant Energy as a way to make sure organizations are leading with transparency and protecting all Wisconsinites.”

Kat Klawes, Climate Action Policy Coordinator, Citizen Action of Wisconsin

“Wisconsin families should not have to pay the price for backroom utility deals. When data center contracts are handled one at a time and kept mostly out of public view, it creates real risks. Costs can be shifted onto everyday households, seniors on fixed incomes, renters, homeowners, and small businesses already struggling with high utility bills. New fossil fuel projects can move forward without full public review. And if projections are wrong, working families will be stuck holding the bill. We urge the Commission to continue listening to Wisconsinites by ensuring large corporations pay their full costs and that no special discounts are approved at the expense of our communities.”

Sarah Zarling, Program Assistant, Wisconsin Environmental Initiative

“Alliant clearly can’t be trusted to have the best interests of the customers it serves in mind and is only operating for its own gain without regard for the consequences. Customers deserve to know that they won’t be required to see their rates go up to pay for an AI Data Center and that Alliant Energy deserves to be held accountable to the fullest extent.”

BACKGROUND

Power Wisconsin Forward is encouraged by the PSC’s decision to require Alliant Energy to refile its proposed data center contract with fewer redactions. This is a meaningful win for the residents, small businesses and advocates who spoke up to ensure the public has the information needed to evaluate whether this agreement protects Alliant customers.

Requiring greater disclosure strengthens public trust in the process and helps ensure that large energy users are held accountable for their costs while Wisconsin’s clean energy progress remains on track.

The original filing limited publicly available information, including the amount of energy needed, the customer name, the length of terms and details of charges, including demand charges. Intervenors in the docket, outside community organizations and impacted customers argued these redactions made it impossible for the public to evaluate whether the agreement would protect public interest, prevent residential and small businesses from subsidizing new infrastructure and fuel costs, ensure the large customer pays the full cost of its energy use and safeguard progress toward Wisconsin’s clean energy and climate goals.

During the PSC’s Feb. 24 virtual public hearing on Alliant’s proposed data center contract, 86% of the verbal commenters raised concerns about the heavy redactions and lack of publicly available information, and 93% of commenters called for a rejection of the contract.

Alongside its decision to require a refiling, the PSC has extended the public comment period from Tuesday, March 3 to Monday, March 9, 2026. However, the March 9 deadline remains insufficient, as the updated, less-redacted information has only just been made available to the public, limiting advocates’ ability to fully review and meaningfully comment on the revised contract in a shortened timeframe.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.