Overview
- At a town hall that organizers moved to a larger room because of turnout, Eric Adams co-led a PNK Group presentation on August 1 and was met with sustained boos, heckling and more than 50 protesters outside.
- Residents pressed Adams and PNK for two hours about water use, impact on the Wisconsin River and local wells, noise from diesel generators, sewer discharge and higher local electricity costs.
- PNK’s chief development officer acknowledged the company has not previously built a similar data center, a point residents said deepened distrust about the project’s feasibility and transparency.
- Adams is serving as a paid community engagement adviser for the proposal and has worked as a business development consultant since leaving office; his 2024 federal indictment was dropped and that history shaped audience reactions.
- Local officials say no approvals have been granted and more public discussion is required, and the dispute reflects wider state debate over data centers, nondisclosure agreements and rules communities use to protect water and land.