QTS presents data center project to DeForest Village Board – Spectrum News 1

Report on Proposed QTS Data Center Campus in DeForest and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview and Procedural Status

• Proposing Entity: QTS Data Centers
• Project Scope: A multi-billion-dollar, nearly 1,600-acre data center campus.
• Location: Land currently within the Town of Vienna, proposed for annexation into the Village of DeForest.
• Current Status: An annexation petition has been submitted to the Village. The Department of Administration has 20 days for review, after which the Village Board has up to 120 days to take action.

Economic and Infrastructure Development (SDG 8 & SDG 9)

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The proposal outlines significant contributions to local economic development.
  • Creation of an estimated 700 full-time jobs.
  • Generation of thousands of temporary construction jobs.
  • A projected multi-million-dollar increase in revenue for the Village of DeForest.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The project represents a substantial investment in critical digital infrastructure, which is fundamental to supporting innovation and resilient industrial development.

Community Engagement and Sustainability Concerns (SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 15)

• A public meeting was conducted where QTS Co-CEO Thomas Greason presented the plan to the Village Board and community members.
• Residents voiced significant concerns regarding the project’s alignment with key sustainability goals.
  • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Concerns were raised about the high volume of water usage required for data center operations.
  • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): The project’s substantial energy consumption was a primary point of concern.
  • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) & SDG 15 (Life on Land): The overall environmental impacts of developing a 1,600-acre site were questioned, highlighting the tension between development and the preservation of sustainable communities and ecosystems.

Path Forward and Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (SDG 17)

1. Initiation of Dialogue: QTS has framed the initial meeting as the beginning of a due diligence and collaborative process with the community.
2. Commitment to Partnership (SDG 17): The company has committed to acting as a resource for the village and its residents, fostering a partnership between the private sector, local government, and the public to address concerns.
3. Formal Review and Decision: The project is subject to a formal review and decision-making timeline by state and local authorities.
4. Continued Public Input: Village officials are planning further public engagement opportunities to ensure community input is central to the deliberation process, which is critical for achieving inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article highlights the economic benefits of the proposed data center, including the creation of “700 full-time jobs” and “thousands of construction jobs,” as well as generating “millions of dollars” in revenue for the village of DeForest. This directly relates to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and employment.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The project itself, a “multi-billion-dollar data center campus,” is a significant development in modern, technological infrastructure. This aligns with the goal of building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Community concerns explicitly mentioned “water usage” as a major issue. This connects the project to the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water, particularly regarding the efficiency of its use by a large industrial facility.
4. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article states that “Energy usage” was one of the biggest problems voiced by community members. This concern links the project to the goal of ensuring access to sustainable energy, focusing on the high energy consumption typical of data centers.
5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The entire process described in the article—annexing land from the Town of Vienna into the Village of DeForest, holding a Village Board meeting for the company to present its plan, and planning for “public engagement opportunities”—relates to urban planning, land-use management, and participatory decision-making in community development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all. The article’s mention of creating “700 full-time jobs” and “thousands of construction jobs” directly supports this target by aiming to increase local employment opportunities.
2. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development. The construction of a “multi-billion-dollar data center campus” is a direct investment in high-tech infrastructure intended to generate economic activity.
3. Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors. The community’s concern about “water usage” implies that the project’s approval and success will depend on its ability to manage water resources efficiently, in line with this target.
4. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The concern over “Energy usage” points to the need for the data center to be highly energy-efficient to mitigate its environmental impact, which aligns with this target.
5. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management. The article describes a public Village Board meeting where community members voiced concerns and officials are planning more “public engagement opportunities.” This process is a direct example of participatory planning for a major development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 8, Target 8.5:
   • Implied Indicator: The number of jobs created. The article provides specific figures (“700 full-time jobs, along with thousands of construction jobs”) that can be used as a direct measure of progress towards increasing employment.
2. For SDG 6, Target 6.4:
   • Implied Indicator: Volume of water consumed by the facility. The community’s concern over “water usage” implies that the amount of water the data center will use will be a key metric for evaluating its environmental impact and sustainability.
3. For SDG 7, Target 7.3:
   • Implied Indicator: Level of energy consumption. The concern about “Energy usage” suggests that the total energy consumed by the data center campus will be a critical indicator for assessing its efficiency and environmental footprint.
4. For SDG 11, Target 11.3:
   • Mentioned Indicator: Structures for public participation in urban planning. The article explicitly mentions the “Village Board meeting” where the public could speak and the plan for future “public engagement opportunities,” which serve as direct evidence of a participatory planning process in action.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: spectrumnews1.com