Port Washington residents meet with officials over $15B data center project

Executives from Vantage Data Centers, OpenAI, and Oracle recently held a community meeting in Port Washington, Wisconsin, to discuss Project Lighthouse, a $15 billion data center campus. The project, which is expected to be completed by 2028, will consist of four buildings covering 2.5 million square feet and is projected to create 1,000 permanent jobs following a construction phase that has seen up to 4,000 workers on-site.

During the open house, company officials addressed resident concerns regarding environmental and utility impacts. Vantage Vice President of Public Policy Misty Allen stated that the company will cover all electricity infrastructure costs to ensure they are not passed on to local ratepayers. Regarding water usage, Vantage representatives noted the campus will utilize a closed-loop system, estimating daily consumption to be equivalent to approximately 65 homes.

Community members raised questions about potential light, sound, and power grid impacts. In response, Oracle and Vantage officials emphasized their commitment to being responsible neighbors and maintaining an open dialogue with the community throughout the development process.