Legal action
Demanding Data Center Transparency - City of Racine
MEA filed a legal action on behalf of Milwaukee Riverkeeper to enforce the Public Records Law when the City of Racine failed to respond to a request seeking information about projected water use at Microsoft’s massive Mount Pleasant data center.
Case Timeline
September 15, 2025
Midwest Environmental Advocates filed a legal action on behalf of Milwaukee Riverkeeper in Racine County Circuit Court to enforce Wisconsin’s Public Records Law by compelling the City of Racine to turn over information related to projected water use at Microsoft’s massive Mount Pleasant data center. The complaint stems from the City of Racine’s failure to respond to a February 2025 public records request submitted by Milwaukee Riverkeeper.
The first phase of Microsoft’s data center campus in Mount Pleasant is currently under construction, with subsequent phases planned. Water for the data center will come from Lake Michigan and will be supplied by the Racine Water Utility under an agreement with the Village of Mount Pleasant.
September 17, 2025
Racine County Circuit Court Judge David Paulson issued an order for a hearing to take place on October 9.
The same day, the City of Racine finally responded to Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s open records request by releasing a single document projecting future water use of approximately 8.4 million gallons a year.
The Need for Transparency
Data center developers like Microsoft often sign non-disclosure agreements with local governments. Researchers in Virginia found that at least 80% of local governments that approved or were considering data center projects had signed NDAs with the companies involved. These agreements can limit public access to information needed to understand and evaluate the potential impacts of proposed data centers — a practice that undermines local democracy and accountability.
Cheryl Nenn
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Our Open Government Work
LEGAL ACTION
Enforcing the Public Records Law
When a natural resources official refused to step down after his term expired, MEA took legal action to compel full disclosure of communications related to his decision to hold over. As a result, we learned the full extent of his coordination with politicians and lobbyists. Shortly after he stepped down, a judge found that he had arbitrarily delayed and denied access to public records.
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LEGAL ACTION
Ensuring Public Access to PFAS Pollution Records
The failure of Dane County and the Madison Water Utility to produce records related to PFAS contamination was a violation of Wisconsin’s Public Records Law. MEA attorneys filed two lawsuits in circuit court to successfully compel disclosure of the documents.
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latest news
Open Government Updates
MEA Recognized for Open Government Work
The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council will honor MEA and other awardees at a free public event in Madison on March 19. MEA is being recognized for promoting transparency and access to public records related to data center development in Wisconsin.
Tell Wisconsin Regulators Data Centers Must Pay Their Own Way
Consumer watchdogs and environmental advocates are keeping a close eye on a pair of cases before the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin that could have big consequences for Wisconsin’s energy future. Find out how you can get involved to ensure data center developers pay 100% of the costs for their power and infrastructure—or if some of those costs will be passed on to regular ratepayers.
Data Center Transparency Is a Right—Not a Public Relations Strategy
Last week, Microsoft publicly acknowledged growing concerns about transparency and community engagement in data center development. The increased attention to transparency and public engagement is welcome news. But it is critical to be clear about what transparency actually means—and what it requires.
MEA and Partners Release Toolkit to Help Wisconsinites Take Action as Data Center Proposals Surge
MEA and our partners have released a toolkit to help Wisconsinites take action as serious concerns about unchecked data center development continue to mount. The toolkit is packed with tools and resources for understanding key decision points and participating in the permitting process.
MEA Files Lawsuit to Challenge Secrecy Surrounding Energy Demands of Meta’s Beaver Dam Data Center
MEA is challenging the Public Service Commission’s refusal to release records related to projected energy demand for Meta’s data center in Beaver Dam. The PSC denied MEA’s open records request, claiming the information contained trade secrets and that keeping it secret serves the public interest.
Data Center Secrecy is Unacceptable
In a column first published by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin, explains why it’s more important than ever that technology companies be transparent about the environmental impacts of huge data centers.