FOX 11 has learned plans for a potential data center project in Greenleaf are being discontinued. Jan. 12, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
WRIGHTSTOWN, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Plans for a potential artificial intelligence data center in Northeast Wisconsin are being discontinued.
The site in question was in the Greenleaf area, with Highway 32 on the east.
A Facebook post Monday night by Town of Wrightstown Supervisor Jesse Juedes says Cloverleaf Infrastructure, a company that finds and develops land for data centers, is backing out of a potential data center project in Greenleaf.
Aaron Bilyeu, Cloverleaf’s chief development officer sent a statement that reads, in part:
We understand and respect that leadership for the village of Greenleaf and the town of Wrightstown don’t want data centers in their jurisdictions. We will continue to look elsewhere.
Bilyeu went on to say the company is not discontinuing its intent to build a data center in Northeast Wisconsin.
This comes as community members gathered at Gnarly Cedar Brewery in Wrightstown for an informational session Monday night. There was an overwhelming opposition to a data center being built in their community and Northeast Wisconsin.
“This is not something that’s actually going to help the community. It’s going to hinder the community with higher energy prices and depletion of our aquifer,” De Pere resident Tim Landwehr said.
“I am not happy with it. I am close to retirement, so that being said, my peace and quiet would be totally gone,” Greenleaf resident Doug Carter said.
Monday’s meeting was hosted by LedgeStone Vineyard, which sits across the street from the site where the data center was proposed. Speakers warned about the impact a data center could have on Greenleaf.
According to the Wisconsin Data Center Coalition, a data center is essential for digital storage. Everything you do online, like social media, streaming shows and cloud storage, uses a data center.
“As we see new and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence or autonomous vehicles, all of that requires digital infrastructure as well. So, it really is the driving force behind the 21st century economy,” Wisconsin Data Center Coalition Vice President of State Policy Dan Diorio said.
Diorio said data centers bring strong economic benefits to communities. He said many jobs are created for construction, skilled trades and inside the data centers themselves.
But people in Greenleaf worry building a data center will impact the environment and create a disturbance in the community. Everyone made it clear Monday, no amount of money will change their mind to sell their land.
“I’m not going to take money and benefit and leave that in my community. I could never do that to people,” Greenleaf resident Bill Van de Voort said.
The village of Greenleaf had scheduled a town meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Wrightstown Town Hall regarding the data center issue. It’s unclear if that has meeting will still happen now that the project has been discontinued.
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