AI seems to be everywhere these days. For many people, especially investors and large corporations, artificial intelligence represents the future of efficiency, innovation, and profit. But not everyone is rushing to embrace it. The problem is that even if you personally avoid using tools like ChatGPT or other AI models, that does not mean AI will not affect you. One of the biggest and most overlooked impacts of AI is the massive physical infrastructure that supports it. Data centers, the buildings that store and process enormous amounts of information, are spreading across the country, and they bring serious environmental, economic, and social consequences to the communities that host them. This is exactly what has been happening in Port Washington, Wisconsin, where residents have been speaking out against the construction of a major AI focused data center in their town.
During a recent board meeting, tensions reached a breaking point when a Port Washington woman stood up to voice her concerns about the AI data center project. She went slightly over her allotted speaking time by only a few seconds. Although she returned to her seat, the situation quickly escalated.
Moments later, the Port Washington police chief approached her and told her she had to leave the building. When she refused, stating that she had done nothing wrong, officers forcibly removed her from the room. She was handcuffed and later cited for disorderly conduct. The video of the incident spread rapidly online, and many people were shocked by how aggressively the situation was handled, especially since she did not appear to be acting in a violent or disruptive manner.
To many locals and viewers online, her concerns seemed justified. Port Washington residents have warned that the proposed AI data center could have serious consequences for the environment. There are fears that it would draw a massive amount of water from Lake Michigan in order to cool its systems, potentially impacting surrounding ecosystems. Others worry that the increased demand on the power grid could lead to higher electricity bills for residents, while large corporations receive tax incentives and financial breaks from the government.
In this way, many people see a troubling pattern. Big companies arrive with promises, receive generous incentives, and then leave ordinary citizens to deal with long term consequences. As one online commenter wrote, “City legislators 100 percent took kickbacks to approve this project. Not a single doubt in my mind. Between the data center and the Gauthiers trying to divert Cedar Creek in Cedarburg for their stupid water ski pond, the rich people are ruining Ozaukee County.”
Beyond the immediate local issues, others have raised concerns about the broader impact of AI itself. From the widespread misinformation powered by generative tools to the destruction of nature due to the massive demand required by data centers, critics argue that this technology benefits the very wealthy while making life more difficult for everyday people.
