Wisconsin Rapids city staff
City staff recommendation cited delay and postponement from original submission in April, high public concern and missing standards and conditions, and multiple inconsistencies across submitted materials.
PNK Group Wisconsin Rapids Data Center
PNK Group is proposing a data center at a historic paper mill site in Wisconsin Rapids, facing community opposition and holding public information sessions including an open house on September 13 and a final webinar addressing jobs and community benefits. It is reported, as reported September 4, 2026.
How much power it needs, how much water it would use and who would use it have not been disclosed.
How to read this page. Every fact links to the source it rests on; a number in brackets is its place in the source list. A figure no source gives reads Not disclosed, and nothing is estimated. Where sources give different figures, each is shown with who gave it, and another source's figure never stands in for the record's own. Entries are added and never overwritten; corrections are listed under What happened.
What is known
Each figure as its source gave it. The number in brackets is its place in the source list.
- Land
- 210 acres
- third party estimate [15]
- Power it would draw
- Not disclosed
- Water
- Not disclosed
- Who leads it
- PNK Group
- as stated by the source
- Who would use it
- Not disclosed
- Jobs once it runs
- Not disclosed
- Tax each year
- Not disclosed
Every field, with who said it and when (Researcher view)
Impact figures
| Field | Value | Who says so | Source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How much power it needs | Not disclosed | |||
| How much water it would use | Not disclosed | |||
| How loud it would be | Not disclosed | |||
| Jobs once it runs | Not disclosed | |||
| Tax it would pay each year | Not disclosed |
The record's fields
| Field | Value | Who says so | Source | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who is building it | PNK Group | as stated by the source | September 25, 2026 | |
| Who is constructing it | Not disclosed | |||
| How much land | 210 acres | third party estimate | [15] yahoo.com | September 25, 2026 |
| Where its power comes from | Not disclosed | |||
| Grid connection | Not disclosed | |||
| How it is cooled | Not disclosed |
The developer's figure is what the company said; what a permit allows is the ceiling a permit sets; measured means observed. Water is in gallons a day or a year, whichever the source stated; a tax claim given as a range shows both ends, each linked to the source that gave it.
Still not public, and where it would show up
The record adds each the day a source gives it. Why these documents.
- Water useA state water right filing or a water supply agreement.
- Who would use itA lease announcement or a tenant named in a filing.
- Power the campus would drawA utility or public service commission docket, an interconnection filing, or an air permit for an on site plant.
- Jobs and taxAn incentive agreement, a county's economic development filing or a fiscal note.
What was decided
Acts of Wood County and Wisconsin Rapids about data centers, on the record with their source. A rule about the area is not a decision about this record.
| Date | Who | Decision | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids Plan Commission unanimously recommended denying the conditional use permit for the proposed data center at the former paper mill site. | wtmj.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted 7-0 to deny recommendation of conditional use permit by PNK Group to construct a data center | waow.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny PNK Group's conditional use permit | reutersconnect.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | City of Wisconsin Rapids has scheduled a public hearing for a moratorium on data center development for October 5 | wjfw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Planning commission vote was 7-0 to recommend denial | wjfw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of the conditional use permit application for PNK Group data center at former Rapids mill site | wjfw.com |
23 earlier decisions on the county's rows
| Date | Who | Decision | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Rapids | Matter will be taken up for action at a future common council meeting, not yet scheduled | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids is currently drafting a data center moratorium after a vote last month | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Application had 33 shortcomings identified by the city | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend denial of the permit application to redevelop old paper mill site into data center | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Both votes were unanimous to deny the conditional use permit and site plan application. | yahoo.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids planning commission votes 7-0 to deny conditional use permit for data center | waow.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids holding permit hearing for possible data center | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted September 16 to deny both the conditional use permit and site plan application for PNK Group data center campus on former paper mill property along Fourth Avenue North. | yahoo.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | The Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission public hearing on the conditional use permit is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | DC Rapids LLC is seeking a Conditional Use Permit to construct a data center facility at 950 Fourth Ave. N., the former papermill site in Wisconsin Rapids. | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development held a data center education meeting on September 14, 2026 | waow.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | A public meeting was held in Wisconsin Rapids regarding impacts of a possible data center. | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | A community group called South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development is holding a forum to oppose the data center. | wsau.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development held a public forum on hyperscale data centers at Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center on Monday at 6:30 PM | wsau.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development will host a free public informational meeting on data center impacts. | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development holding public forum on hyperscale data centers and community impacts on Sept. 14 at Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m. | waow.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Legal notice for public hearing posted September 3, 2026. | wisconsinrapidstribune.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission scheduled public hearing on October 5, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Performing Arts Center to discuss temporary data center development moratorium. | wisconsinrapidstribune.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission will hold public hearing on September 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center to discuss project site plan and conditional use permit | wsaw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Public hearing scheduled for September 16 at 5:30 p.m. on conditional use permit for data center at former Rapids mill site (950 Fourth Ave. North) | wjfw.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Planning Commission will discuss and act on conditional use permit and site plan review. | wrcitytimes.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Public hearing on conditional use permit for data center at 950 Fourth Ave. N. | wrcitytimes.com | |
| Wisconsin Rapids | Data center moratorium was first discussed at August 10, 2026 Planning Commission meeting. | wisconsinrapidstribune.com |
What happened
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
Formal plans for the data center have not yet been submitted to the city. [14]
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
A data center is proposed for the site of the abandoned Verso Paper Mill in Wisconsin Rapids. [14]
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
A proposal to turn the old Verso paper mill into a data center has no formal plans yet presented to the city [13]
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
PNK Group hosted series of four webinars and will host open house event on September 13, 2026. [17]
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
Planning Commission will hold public hearing on September 16, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss PNK Group conditional use permit and site plan review. [17]
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
PNK Group submitted original conditional use permit application in April 2026 and updated application in July 2026. [17]
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
Four informational webinars hosted by PNK Group in August addressed local concerns regarding power and water consumption, noise mitigation plans, and projected job creation [12]
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
Plans call for multi building data center campus encompassing approximately 670,000 square feet with retrofitting of existing building and new construction [12]
3 earlier entries
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
Project involves acquiring nearly 209 acres of former paper mill property off Fourth Avenue North [12]
-
(source date; the content gives no date of its own)
PNK Group will host public open house on Sunday September 13 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Hotel Mead Resorts & Convention Center [12]
-
· reported (source date; the content gives no date of its own)
Application from DC Rapids LLC for conditional use permit to construct data center [11]
The full PNK Group Wisconsin Rapids Data Center timeline, in order
5 corrections to this record
Every correction, with its reason
-
· the kind of source of a history entry
The source was labeled with the Google News search that found it; it now carries its outlet's tier (the record's rules of 2026-09-23). The link did not change. The day's label corrections.
-
· the kind of source of a history entry
The source was labeled with the Google News search that found it; it now carries its outlet's tier (the record's rules of 2026-09-23). The link did not change. The day's label corrections.
-
· the kind of source of a history entry
The source was labeled with the Google News search that found it; it now carries its outlet's tier (the record's rules of 2026-09-23). The link did not change. The day's label corrections.
-
· the kind of source of a history entry
The source was labeled with the Google News search that found it; it now carries its outlet's tier (the record's rules of 2026-09-23). The link did not change. The day's label corrections.
-
· the kind of source of a history entry
The source was labeled with the Google News search that found it; it now carries its outlet's tier (the record's rules of 2026-09-23). The link did not change. The day's label corrections.
Every correction on the record is on the corrections page.
What was said
GOP State Rep. Scott Krug, representing Wisconsin Rapids, spoke against the data center proposal
Protest occurred at Wisconsin Rapids in response to PNK Group data center information meeting hosted by company and Eric Adams
Every statement about data centers in Wisconsin, by speaker
11 more statements on this page
Wisconsin State Assemblyman
State Assemblyman Scott Krug (R Rome) spoke against the data center as a bipartisan community issue
State Rep. Scott Krug said the PNK proposal does not meet the requirement to approve the conditional use permit and the application is incomplete.
PNK Group stated commitment to resubmit application despite planning commission denial
South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development
The meeting will address community concerns including energy demand, potential pollution, noise levels, and environmental effects.
South Wood County Neighbors for Responsible Development, organizers
Guest speakers will discuss environmental impacts, noise concerns, pollution and energy consumption related to hyperscale data centers
Wisconsin Rapids city staff
Proposed moratorium would last up to 12 months to allow city to amend zoning ordinances related to data centers.
PNK Group representatives stated site will utilize closed loop cooling system to minimize environmental impacts
Wisconsin Rapids community members and protest organizers
Community concerns included water usage, noise pollution and other environmental impacts of the proposed data center
Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Matt Zacher stated data center development would have broken ground in May without community backlash
Eric Adams and Anton Voronkin
Eric Adams, PNK Group Chief Development Officer Anton Voronkin stated the company listens to community concerns and would design accordingly
The site
Where in Wood County is not in the public record. The pin marks the county seat, not a building, and the outline is the county.
Tap a pin for the data center, the parcel for its record
- This record: Proposed, ringed
- data center
- Dashed edge: the exact site is not in the public record
- Smaller pins: 6 other published records in Wisconsin
Details
- this record's location, ringed
- parcel outline, from the county parcel record
- city limits, U.S. Census Bureau, on a town level record
- county boundary
The other pins are the published projects in the same state, each in its stage color. The imagery beneath is the USGS national orthoimagery, public domain, shown so the land around the site can be read.
- Where
- Wisconsin Rapids, Wood County, Wisconsin
- How exactly it is located
- County level, the county seat
- The parcel
- No parcel outline in the public record
- Nearest homes
- Not computed for a record placed at a place center
- Nearest records
- Nearest records are not computed for a record placed at a county seat.
Questions about this project
5 questions answered from the record
How big is PNK Group Wisconsin Rapids Data Center?
-
The record has one measure of its size: 210 acres (third party estimate, source). Its power capacity is not disclosed.
Who is building PNK Group Wisconsin Rapids Data Center?
-
PNK Group is the developer. No construction contractor is named on the record yet.
How much power and water does PNK Group Wisconsin Rapids Data Center say it needs?
-
Power: not disclosed by any source on file. Water: not disclosed by any source on file.
Where does PNK Group Wisconsin Rapids Data Center stand today?
-
It is reported, as reported September 4, 2026. The newest entry, reported September 14, 2026: Formal plans for the data center have not yet been submitted to the city. [14]
What has Wisconsin Rapids or Wood County decided about it?
-
Wisconsin Rapids: Wisconsin Rapids Plan Commission unanimously recommended denying the conditional use permit for the proposed data center at the former paper mill site. (reported September 21, 2026, source); and Wisconsin Rapids: Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted 7-0 to deny recommendation of conditional use permit by PNK Group to construct a data center (reported September 17, 2026, source). 29 events are on the county's rows; a rule about the area is not a decision about this record.
Sources
Reporting
- Wisconsin Rapids data center proposal sparks community tension - WSAW, WSAW, July 31, 2026, query feed
- PNK Group plans Sept. 13 open house about Wisconsin Rapids data center - Daily Tribune Media, Daily Tribune Media, September 4, 2026, query feed
- In Wisconsin Rapids, data center objections include developers’ Russian connections - Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch, August 28, 2026, query feed
- Final WI Rapids data center webinar addresses jobs, community benefits - Daily Tribune Media, Daily Tribune Media, August 31, 2026, query feed
- Wisconsin Rapids Becomes Flashpoint In State’s Data Center Backlash - Urban Milwaukee, Urban Milwaukee, August 7, 2026, query feed
- Wisconsin Rapids' historic paper mill site could become a data center. Residents aren't happy. - WPR, WPR, August 4, 2026, query feed
- PNK Group plans Sept. 13 open house about Wisconsin Rapids data center - Daily Tribune Media, Daily Tribune Media, September 4, 2026, local outlet
- Wisconsin Rapids' historic paper mill site could become a data center. Residents aren't happy. - WPR, WPR, August 4, 2026, local outlet
- Final WI Rapids data center webinar addresses jobs, community benefits - Daily Tribune Media, Daily Tribune Media, August 31, 2026, local outlet
- Wisconsin Rapids data center proposal sparks community tension - WSAW, WSAW, July 31, 2026, local outlet
- Wisconsin Rapids will hold public hearing Sept. 16 on data center conditional use permit - wjfw.com, wjfw.com, September 4, 2026, local outlet
- Developer to host open house ahead of Wisconsin Rapids data center vote - WSAW, WSAW, September 8, 2026, local outlet
7 more sources
- Residents organize community meeting on Wisconsin Rapids data center - WSAU, WSAU, September 13, 2026, local outlet
- CONLEY COMMENTARY , The data center - WSAU, WSAU, September 14, 2026, local outlet
- WI Rapids Planning Commission recommends denial of data center permits - Daily Tribune Media, Daily Tribune Media, September 17, 2026, local outlet
- City of Wisconsin Rapids to hold a public hearing on a data center conditional use permit - Wisconsin Rapids City Times, Wisconsin Rapids City Times, September 1, 2026, local outlet
- Wisconsin Rapids schedules public hearing for data center moratorium - Daily Tribune Media, Daily Tribune Media, September 9, 2026, local outlet
- Who is the developer of the proposed Wisconsin Rapids data center?, wausaupilotandreview.com, May 17, 2026, local outlet
- In Wisconsin Rapids, data center objections include developers’ Russian connections - Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch, August 28, 2026, local outlet
19 sources on file.
Cite this record
Data Center Record, "PNK Group Wisconsin Rapids Data Center", https://datacenterrecord.org/projects/pnk-group-wisconsin-rapids-data-center-wi, last verified September 25, 2026.
Cite this page
Data Center Record, "PNK Group Wisconsin Rapids Data Center", https://datacenterrecord.org/projects/pnk-group-wisconsin-rapids-data-center-wi. Data: Data Center Record, datacenterrecord.org, CC BY 4.0.
The structured rows are CC BY 4.0. Link to this page; that is what turns a reuse into a citation. Prose stays under copyright.
For researchers
- Slug
- pnk-group-wisconsin-rapids-data-center-wi
- Status value
- rumored
- Stage
- Proposed
- Tier
- skeleton
- Tags
- skeleton
- Place id
- us/wi/wood-county/wisconsin-rapids
- Coordinates
- 44.39444, -89.83278
- Location precision
- county
- Location source
- County seat (Wisconsin Rapids), Wikidata, placed at county level
- Coordinate source
- wikidata county seat
- Location source number
- Not disclosed
- Location last verified
- September 16, 2026
- EPA registry id
- Not disclosed
- Use type values
- not_disclosed
- Tenancy value
- not_disclosed
- Cooling type value
- not_disclosed
- Capacity basis
- not_disclosed
- Water basis
- not_disclosed, gallons_per_day
- Acreage basis
- third_party_estimate
- Interconnection value
- not_disclosed
- Capacity, if disclosed
- Not disclosed
- Rating of the county's rows
- Not disclosed
- Published
- 2026-09-04
- Last verified
- 2026-09-25