We wanted to draw attention to an issue affecting Menomonie, Wisconsin. A proposed $1.6 billion data center on 320 acres of farmland (located between 650th and 690th Avenue) has drawn strong opposition. The City Council quickly annexed and rezoned the land to “Restricted Industrial,” even though the developer, Balloonist LLC, has not revealed who will operate the facility or provided detailed site plans. This secrecy and the speed of approval have eroded community trust, leaving many residents feeling shut out of the decision-making process.
Residents have mobilized through a Facebook group called “Stop the Menomonie Data Center,” now with over 2,000 members, and in community meetings where concerns about transparency dominate. Many question why prime farmland is being sacrificed and whether city officials truly weighed the long-term impacts on people living nearby.
The environmental and public health concerns are substantial. The data center is projected to use around 75,000 gallons of water per day, making it one of the area’s largest consumers, rivaling major industrial users like Cardinal FG and UW-Stout. Residents also warn about noise and light pollution, strain on local utilities, heavier traffic, and disruptions to rural farmland.
Altogether, residents argue that the project threatens farmland, water, air, and quality of life in Menomonie while being pushed forward without clear answers. For many, it’s not just the scale of the facility that’s troubling, but how city officials’ lack of transparency has deepened community mistrust!
Source