Dane County Advisory Committee on Data Centers

The County Board has established the 13-member Advisory Committee on Data Centers to impartially gather facts, research, analyze, and provide “recommendations regarding the economic, environmental, and community implications of data center development within Dane County.” The committee is comprised of local government officials, community stakeholders, and members with knowledge and experience relevant to the subject matters to be examined, which include the following. 

•    Energy and water use and their impacts on local utilities and ratepayers;
•    Land use and environmental compatibility, including farmland preservation and infrastructure planning;
•    Economic and fiscal impacts, including tax base and employment effects; and
•    Intergovernmental coordination and policy options for consistent review of data center proposals.

The committee will be supported by staff from the Dane County Planning and Development Department and County Board office. The committee will conduct its work at regularly scheduled monthly meetings over the course of 2026. All meetings will be open to the public and held in hybrid format in person at the city-county building and online/phone via Zoom. Two public hearings will be held to solicit public feedback on draft findings and recommendations.

Members of the public and other interested parties may provide public comment via email at : ACDC@danecounty.gov. 

For information about attending / participating in meetings, please visit the county’s legislative information center.