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Melissa Hughes: “We have a strong electrical utility grid that [data centers]…”

Featuring: Melissa Hughes, Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

From Sheep to State

Published March 29, 2026 | Video Starts at 29:36

So, you know, they are really excited about being here. Land is not as expensive as it might be in Texas or in Arizona. And We have a strong electrical utility grid that [data centers] want to access. So when you have leverage like that, that you got to sit down with these companies and you got to say, okay, how are we going to be good partners? (29:36–29:43)

CLAIM

Asserts that Wisconsin has a strong electrical utility grid that is attractive to data centers.

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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Melissa Hughes

“The Wisconsin economy is incredibly diverse, with dairy being a $55 billion economy.”
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“All of agriculture, including dairy, is a $115 billion industry in Wisconsin.”
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“Over 9,500 businesses in all 72 counties [of Wisconsin] go into empty spaces and start their businesses.”
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“Over 70% of [the businesses started through the Main Street Bounce Back program] were opened by women.”
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“We're definitely an island. Everybody around us has, you know, as you said, legalized [marijuana].”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 31:18-31:24
“When elected, she'll be the first woman who is the governor of Wisconsin.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 36:49-37:11
“Governor Evers announced in July that he was not going to run for re-election.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 06:19-06:37
“I saw an opportunity to bring my skills and my experience in building economies, in helping Wisconsin businesses expand to the governor's…”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 06:25-06:37
“I wanted to really keep the momentum that we have seen over the past few years of the Wisconsin economy growing and growing and businesses…”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 06:37-06:48
“I want to help Wisconsin's economy continue to grow so that folks have access to good jobs right in their communities and everything else…”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 07:16-07:27
“I've spent 17 years working for farmers, so I know how to talk to farmers.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 09:47-09:53
“I've been in the dairy industry, so I'm really connected to the land when it comes to understanding what people are looking for from their…”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 09:52-09:57
“I've done a ton of work in both [Madison and Milwaukee] in the last six years, especially in Milwaukee, working with companies like Fiserv…”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 10:02-10:14
“I've worked a ton in Green Bay, so I've worked all over the state.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 10:24-10:30
“I'm not making empty promises about solving things across the state, whether it's housing or child care.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 23:17-23:24
“I can point to actual impact that I have had to make those changes and to make those differences around the state.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 23:24-23:31
“I'm gonna provide practical solutions for Wisconsin that I've already shown we've done in different communities all around the state.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 23:43-23:52
“I want to reinvest Wisconsin's taxpayer dollars back into our communities and really make a difference.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 24:02-24:09
“We need to be strong on both feet as a state to be able to move forward and move past this, this moment in time as quickly as possible.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 25:34-25:45
“That means to me, having a strong economy, investing in our schools, investing in Wisconsinites.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 25:44-25:50
“We have to make those core investments now so that we are continuing some momentum and can move even faster once he's gone and done with…”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 25:49-26:02
“These data centers want to be here in Wisconsin because it's cold, which costs less to cool data servers.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 29:16-29:20
“Land is not as expensive as it might be in Texas or in Arizona.”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 29:31-29:37
“I renegotiated [the Foxconn] whole contract.”
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“I am pro legalization [of marijuana].”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 31:23-31:26
“There's obviously a huge amount of damages from alcohol and opioids.”
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“We're potentially going to be in the same type of a moment with AI [as with the introduction of electricity].”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 39:19-39:25
“We have so much to be proud of and to look forward to [in Wisconsin].”
From Sheep to State | Uploaded March 29, 2026 | 42:22-42:27
“That's what I want to bring as governor, that pride and that excitement for the future.”
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