Palmquist told WPR her request to revisit the data center ordinance is “forward-thinking” to further regulate data center development. The city’s data center ordinance requires any future data center to be inside the industrial district of the mill site, according to the city. Local concerns mirror public opinion across stateOpposition to data centers has been growing across Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Rapids has seen public concern about the data center. A Change.org petition labeled, “Stop the data center in Wisconsin Rapids” had over 3,380 signatures as of Aug. 3. “By signing this petition, you can urge decision-makers to cancel the data center project in Wisconsin Rapids, consider banning them all together,” the petition states.