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Francesca Hong: “We have data centers right now that have sales and use tax…”

Featuring: Francesca Hong, Democratic | Wisconsin State Assembly, District 76

Wisconsin's Environmental Future: A Nonpartisan Gubernatorial Forum Part 2

Published June 2, 2026 | Video Starts at 36:12

And if data centers do want to operate in Wisconsin, it should absolutely be powered by by 100% new additional renewable energy. And there can be no tax exemptions that We have data centers right now that have sales and use tax exemptions that have cost the state upwards of $40 million. Wisconsin's natural resources are not for sale and we should not be selling out our company to our state to Big Tech. (36:12–36:20)

CLAIM

Asserts that tax exemptions for data centers have cost Wisconsin over $40 million.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Francesca Hong

“Wisconsin was actually the first state in the country to pass a renewable portfolio [in 1999].”
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“Natural gas and coal still generate about 72% of Wisconsin's electricity and renewables are only around 10 to 12%.”
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“$12 million was what the executive pay for We Energies [executive] took home.”
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“The law was written in the early 1900s and it prevents the commission from considering air pollution.”
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“Wisconsinites electricity bills are the second highest in the Midwest.”
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“The manufacturing and agricultural tax credit that costs the state around $400 million a year, this is a tax credit, a subsidy that we…”
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“It [AB888] creates the funding necessary to train up thousands of workers who would be able to collectively bargain and construct this…”
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“Ratepayers should not be paying for utilities to lobby against them.”
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“Ratepayers should not be paying for utilities to lobby against them.”
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“We've seen millions of dollars get lost in trade association fees.”
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“The administration should use every tool possible and wield the full power of the executive [to address Line 5].”
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“Line 5 should be shut down and not rerouted.”
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“We have to stop both Line 5 in both its current form and the reroute as well.”
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“Expand the DNR board of directors to include not one, but multiple tribal nations representation.”
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“There should be direct partnership with the Bad River Band, the Red Cliff, and every tribal nation defending their Great Lakes.”
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“In Wisconsin, we have seen that the courts have interpreted it to include greenhouse gas emissions.”
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“Our Public Service Commission keeps approving new gas plants while the climate crisis continues to accelerate.”
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“It's imperative that we work, that the executive work with the legislature to repeal these statutory binders.”
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“There are additional statutory changes that will allow the Public Service Commission to actually be much more reflective of the public…”
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“If a data center wants to operate in Wisconsin, it should be powered entirely with renewables.”
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“I've also introduced a bill that would put a moratorium on the construction of new AI data centers until we have more data on the impacts…”
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“Data centers should pay for the full cost of the infrastructure they require.”
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“Local governments should have the authority to approve or reject [data center] projects if they don't want them there.”
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“We've had legislation introduced that would prohibit the use of NDA, and I would absolutely direct the legislature to continue to pursue…”
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“The Republican majority in the legislature has refused to take up [legislation giving the PSC more regulatory power].”
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“Most of that [$12 million] was due to ratepayer hikes and the profits that were made from that.”
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“It's imperative that we have transparency and accountability when it comes to decisions around ratepayer increases.”
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“Closing loopholes, ensuring that we're putting in statute that there are regular reforms...is absolutely imperative.”
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“No single lobby dollar is taken from the people of Wisconsin when it comes to payments for utilities.”
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“The average we energy bills have doubled in the last 20 years.”
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“Utility costs should not be shifted onto any family here in the state of Wisconsin.”
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“Restoring regional transit authorities is going to be key.”
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“The legislation [for restoring regional transit authorities] is ready to go in the state assembly.”
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“We would get support from it in the Senate as well.”
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“The bill for [EV charging infrastructure investments] already exists as well. I believe it's AB888.”
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“If the legislature doesn't take action now to fully fund the Knowles Nelson stewardship program, this helps restore conservationist…”
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“I would also establish a permanent Wisconsin climate resilience fund.”
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“We can fund this by ensuring that we are not losing funds that could be coming into the state that are going out to pay for utility…”
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“We are capping those profits and not approving additional utility rate hikes where those investments are not going to come to our grid.”
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“Public health is at the intersection of every issue. Climate, housing, food, education, health care.”
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“We have hollowed out our local governments and the funding that goes towards our public health departments.”
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“Moving towards a more equitable shared revenue formula, ensuring that our local governments have the funding they need to invest into public…”
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“There is a lot of work that must be done in terms of repealing a lot of the harm that has come from this divestment into public health.”
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“This includes what we've seen in terms of defunding our public universities and public education.”
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“We can build better centralized resource systems for our public health departments.”
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“Collaboration is needed to ensure that there is proper communication and a better use of limited resources.”
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“There is a unique opportunity right now to invest in renewables, to hold polluters accountable, to take on corporate control.”
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“Johnson Controls has been trying to buy, basically trying to sell them out to make sure that they're not held accountable for the PFAS…”
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“There is bipartisan understanding and now advocacy to make sure that the system that is rigged against us having a clean and healthy planet…”
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“A Republican legislature that has led us to a Wisconsin that does not serve all of us.”
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