Port Washington, Wisconsin is poised to host one of the Midwest’s largest digital infrastructure projects after city officials approved a development agreement for an $8 billion, multi-building data center campus led by Vantage Data Centers. The Common Council vote on Aug. 19, 2025, cleared a key hurdle for the project, which spans a broader 1,900-acre area being annexed in phases into the city.
The Project at a Glance
- Developer: Vantage Data Centers (Denver-based).
- Scale: Four initial buildings totaling ~2.5 million sq. ft. on roughly 672 acres, plus a visitor center and warehouse. Two buildings are ~560,000 sq. ft. each and two are ~719,000 sq. ft. each.
- Investment: $8 billion campus, among the largest in Wisconsin to date.
- Timeline & Land: The city has annexed 1,315 of roughly 1,900 acres and aims to finish annexation by year-end 2025.
- Power Needs: Up to ~1.3 GW at full build for the four-building phase, with the city indicating the supply will be “mostly clean energy.” (Specific mix to be detailed by utilities and the developer as interconnection plans mature.)
- Local Approvals & Process: Alongside the development agreement, officials are moving forward with a Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) district of up to $175 million for infrastructure such as roads, utilities and site prep.
Economic Ripple Effects
Construction surge. Projects of this size typically require thousands of skilled trades over multiple years. While Port Washington hasn’t released an official construction headcount, comparable Wisconsin data center builds (e.g., Microsoft in Mount Pleasant) projected thousands of construction jobs; Port Washington’s multibillion-dollar scope suggests similarly substantial, multi-year work for regional contractors and suppliers. (This comparison is an inference based on scale; Microsoft’s earlier $3.3 billion Wisconsin project estimated 2,300 construction jobs.)
Permanent tech and facilities roles. Once operational, large campuses employ full-time staff in critical facilities operations, security, networking, and logistics. Although exact headcount depends on design and automation, multi-building campuses commonly support hundreds of direct jobs and additional indirect roles in maintenance, catering, landscaping, and specialized vendors. (Generalized industry projection; Port Washington-specific staffing numbers have not yet been published.)
Tax base growth. The city expects new property value and incremental taxes as buildings come online. Local reporting indicates early estimates of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually beginning in the late-2020s, growing with each phase; TIF proceeds are earmarked for infrastructure that benefits the site and surrounding area. Exact annual figures will depend on the build-out schedule and final assessments.
Spillover benefits. Large data centers draw secondary investment: grid upgrades, fiber routes, industrial services, and hospitality. Suppliers—HVAC, electrical gear, backup power, and IT hardware logistics—often stage nearby, supporting additional commercial activity in Ozaukee County. (General industry pattern; specific vendor announcements in Port Washington are pending.)
Environmental and Infrastructure Considerations
Electric grid & transmission. Residents and officials have flagged concerns about new high-voltage lines and substations needed to deliver up to gigawatt-scale power. The project’s approval has already sparked discussion of routing, visual impact, and reliability. Expect separate utility-led regulatory reviews (PSCW) to assess interconnection, routing, and mitigation measures.
Energy mix & emissions. The city has stated that power for the campus will come from “mostly clean energy,” but the precise mix (renewables, existing fleet, PPAs, RECs) will be clarified as utility agreements are finalized. Given the ~1.3 GW peak cited for the first four buildings, even incremental increases in clean-energy procurement and efficiency standards will materially affect the site’s carbon footprint.
Water use & cooling. Details on the campus’s cooling design have not yet been published. Industry practice has trended toward air-cooled or closed-loop systems and seasonal/free-air economization in the Upper Midwest, which minimize consumptive water use relative to open-loop systems. Final environmental documents should specify water sourcing, peak/average draw, discharge handling, and any reclaimed-water options. (Industry context; project-specific water plans pending city/utility filings.)
Land & habitat. The city is annexing a large area in stages, with the initial four buildings on ~672 acres of the site. Site plans and permits will trigger stormwater, wetland, and erosion controls; expect county and state reviews to set conditions for setbacks, grading, and runoff management to protect nearby waterways and Lake Michigan. The city has published a running list of “pros and cons” and project updates to centralize community questions as designs evolve.
Community Questions to Watch
- Transmission routing and substation siting: Where will new lines run, and what visual/noise mitigations will be required?
- Power sourcing commitments: Will Vantage and utilities publish clear renewable-energy and efficiency targets tied to each construction phase?
- Water and stormwater plans: How will cooling and runoff be managed through droughts, heat waves, and extreme precipitation events?
- Construction phasing & traffic: What temporary road, rail, and trucking accommodations will minimize disruptions for residents and businesses?
- Local workforce pipelines: How will the city, technical colleges, and unions align training for data center operations and high-voltage specialties?
Bottom Line
Port Washington’s data center campus represents a generational bet on digital infrastructure: billions in capital, long-run tax base growth, and new skilled jobs—balanced against very real questions about grid capacity, siting of transmission, and resource use on Lake Michigan’s shore. With approvals now in hand and annexations continuing through 2025, the most consequential decisions ahead will be the nuts and bolts of how the campus sources power, cools equipment, manages land and water, and integrates with neighborhoods. Transparent utility filings, environmental reviews, and community engagement will determine whether the project delivers on its economic promise while meeting the region’s environmental expectations.
Please note: Any opinions discussed in this article belong solely to the author, Marissa Berends, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Capitol Lien.
About the Author
Marissa Berends is a Certified Abstractor and Industry Relations Coordinator at Capitol Lien, a nationwide due diligence and risk mitigation services provider. Since joining the company in September 2021, she has earned abstractor certifications in Minnesota, Nebraska, and North Dakota. She is pursuing her Wisconsin Title Examiner certification, which is expected to be completed in Fall 2025.
Marissa is involved with the following groups: Wisconsin Land Title Association’s (WLTA) Convention Committee & Young Title Professionals; Nebraska Land Title Association’s (NLTA) Convention Committee; Property Record Industry Association (PRIA) National Education Committee; Illinois Land Title Association’s (ILTA) Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Acceptance (IDEA) Committee; and the National Association of Land Title Examiners and Abstractors (NALTEA).
About Capitol Lien
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Sources:
TMJ4 News: Port Washington approves $8 billion data center as residents raise power line concerns
WPR: Eastern Wisconsin city approves development agreement for $8B data center campus
Data Center Dynamics: Vantage explores data center development on Cloverleaf site in Port Washington, Wisconsin
BizTimes: Port Washington approves $8 billion Vantage Data Centers project
BridgeTower Media: Milwaukee suburb approves $8B data center development
Ozaukee Press: $175M TIF district to help finance data center
AP News: Biden lauds new Microsoft center on the same site where Trump’s Foxconn project failed