Wisconsin agency uses NDAs for AI data center projects

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) has signed at least five nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) with developers of artificial intelligence data centers, according to records obtained via public records law.

These state-level agreements increase the total number of Wisconsin projects using NDAs to eight, when combined with local agreements previously reported in five communities. Critics argue these secrecy pacts prevent the public from knowing about multibillion-dollar projects while officials negotiate terms. Economic development officials maintain that NDAs are necessary to attract businesses to the state.

The records reveal significant delays between the signing of NDAs and public announcements. For example, an August 2023 NDA signed with Balloonist LLC preceded the public announcement of a proposed data center in Menomonie by 23 months. In Beaver Dam, an NDA for a Meta data center was signed 19 months before public disclosure.