Take a tour with us to learn more about the need for digital infrastructure in Wisconsin. We’ll travel around the state to meet with industry and community leaders to hear how AI (artificial intelligence) is being used to make our lives better, not worse. We’ll start with Terry McGowan, President of the Wisconsin Operating Engineers to see how it’s being used in new heavy construction equipment and also with the training of the next generation of Operating Engineers. We’ll then catch up with Professor Becky Matzke, PhD, a history Professor from Ripon College to hear about AI and how it’s being integrated into our education from a teaching perspective. Beyond all the above and below ground wiring, digital infrastructure also includes the construction of data centers in Wisconsin and obviously there are a lot of questions about their power usage and the potential for them to pass costs on to Wisconsin rate payers. So we caught up with Richard Stasik from We Energies at their Paris Solar and Battery Park in Kenosha County to get some answers, and learn how they’re taking a unique approach with Data Center owners to ensure their power needs are not being paid for by their existing residences and businesses. We finish up our digital infrastructure tour in Port Washington WI with their Mayor Ted Neitzke to hear first-hand about their experience with the new Lighthouse Data Center being built a few miles outside of their downtown. Some of the questions we cover include, Were their community concerns properly addressed? How was that done? Are they being met so far? What benefits will there be for Port Washington residences and businesses? Any recommendations for other communities in Wisconsin that are being approached by data center developers?
