Last summer, Charlie Berens, a journalist-turned-comedian, began receiving messages from worried residents of Wisconsin regarding a proposed large-scale data center campus in their area.
The company behind the project, Vantage Data Centers, has promised that the $8 billion venture will primarily utilize zero-emission energy sources such as solar, wind, and battery storage. They claim the campus will create thousands of temporary construction jobs and potentially over 1,000 permanent positions in Port Washington, a city with around 13,000 inhabitants located approximately 30 minutes north of Milwaukee. Despite these claims, local residents expressed their opposition due to perceived insufficient transparency and criticized the generous tax incentives offered to Vantage. Concerns were raised about the potential strain on local water and energy supplies from a colossal 1.3-gigawatt project that could cover 1,900 acres.
Berens, known for his humorous “Manitowoc Minute” videos that highlight Midwestern quirks, shared his apprehensions about the rapid expansion of AI data centers. Being a Milwaukee native, he was aware of the possible environmental risks, increased energy costs for nearby residents, and noise pollution associated with such projects.
Upon further investigation, he discovered that Wisconsin lawmakers had set the stage for the Port Washington campus' development, which included a deal providing Vantage with approximately $458 million in tax breaks over two decades to support infrastructure, all while denying the city any tax revenue during that timeframe.
“It was shocking,” Berens remarked.
Motivated by these revelations, Berens took the unusual step of incorporating political discussions into his comedic videos. He chose to tackle the contentious topic of AI’s implications for Americans.
In August 2025, he released his inaugural “Manitowoc Minute” video focused on AI data centers. Remaining true to his comedic style, the two-minute skit combined humor with factual commentary, sharply criticizing large technology companies. Dressed in a Green Bay Packers tie, he accused Silicon Valley executives of treating Wisconsin as a “dumping ground” for data centers, prioritizing profit over the state's valued natural resources, all while avoiding accountability to the public.
“It is our civic duty to make sure the billionaires become trillionaires,” he quipped in a satirical manner.
Berens directed his criticism toward Port Washington lawmakers, a city once buoyed by flourishing fishing and shipping industries. In a contentious vote the previous August, officials approved the initial $8 billion data center project despite strong opposition from the community. This project eventually evolved into a $15 billion partnership with OpenAI and Oracle, emblematic of ambitious initiatives from the Trump administration.
“I was astonished by how many residents voiced their dissent at public meetings, only for the vote to be unanimous in favor of the project,” Berens expressed. “The democratic process felt imbalanced.”
His video quickly gained traction online, amassing over 2.5 million views on YouTube alone. Messages of support from Wisconsinites across the political spectrum flooded his inbox—ranging from self-identified MAGA supporters to devoted socialists—who shared their concerns regarding data centers.
“Almost all comments were positive, which is rare these days,” Berens noted. “From that moment, I felt the need to engage more, as it seemed no one was advocating for the people in our communities.”
Since then, Berens has dedicated himself to raising awareness about this issue by regularly producing videos and participating in well-attended events featuring experts and anti-data center advocates. His efforts have catapulted him to the forefront of a growing movement in Wisconsin, where opposition to data center projects—of which Port Washington is just one of seven planned hyperscale facilities—has surged over the past year. A recent Marquette University Law School survey revealed that nearly 70% of registered voters in Wisconsin believe the drawbacks of large data centers outweigh their advantages, a marked increase from the 55% recorded in October.
This rising visibility has drawn the ire of various labor unions, pro-business advocates, and a significant portion of the political establishment in Wisconsin, who argue that the state must not fall behind in the AI race.
In a series of interviews, Berens explained his decision to dive headlong into this movement, outlining how major tech companies have eroded public trust through behind-the-scenes tactics to promote data centers. He shared insights gained from his travels across the state and beyond.
“The more people learn about this issue, the clearer it becomes that the fight is inherently unequal,” he stated.
In March, a late winter evening saw hundreds gather in Juneau, a small town about 45 miles northeast of Madison, for a “people's town hall” addressing a controversial $1 billion Meta data center project. Attendees included community activists and even a former Meta employee. Berens, managing to fit the event into his comedy tour schedule, was a key speaker.
“This is the most bipartisan issue since beer,” he humorously opened.
During his 15-minute speech, Berens called for increased regulation on AI, comparing it to bratwurst, a beloved Wisconsin delicacy that is more stringently controlled despite the vast reach of the trillion-dollar tech industry. He highlighted the potential dangers of AI, utilizing a slideshow of news headlines to underscore its possible harms to children and responded to critics directly.
“I’ll stick to humor when our politicians focus on responsible policy instead of shielding big tech,” Berens declared, earning applause from the crowd.
Turning his focus to the Beaver Dam project, he criticized Meta for its use of a shell company and the non-disclosure agreements that clouded the approval process. An investigative report identified Meta as the entity behind the development, which had initially been registered to a different corporation.
These secretive practices echo a troubling trend across Wisconsin, where many data center projects have emerged with limited transparency, raising questions from community members. A recent investigation by Wisconsin Watch revealed that non-disclosure agreements had been signed in at least five cities where data centers are either proposed or under construction.
Maily Kocinski, a lifelong resident of Beaver Dam whose farm lies within two miles of the new data center site, shared her own alarming experiences. After noticing that a creek on her property had dried up, she discovered troubling water quality issues. Despite her attempts to contact the state's department of natural resources, responses to her reports have been ineffective.
Kocinski personally commissioned a water analysis that found metal levels exceeding safety recommendations. She questioned the potential impact of construction blasting on her water supply, while Meta later conducted their own study, denying any connection.
A spokesperson from the DNR confirmed that elevated metal levels were discovered in a water sample from Kocinski's creek, but noted that without a specific investigation, they could not attribute any changes to the blasting.
Kocinski, who works as an elementary school teacher, has invested significant time researching the environmental implications of large-scale data center projects since last fall. In March, she testified at the Wisconsin Senate in favor of an oversight bill that ultimately failed to advance.
Having reached out to Berens via email to share her story, Kocinski remarked on his commitment to understanding this complicated issue. “Charlie has put in the time to grasp the realities,” she said. “Many attendees likely came because he was there, but they ended up learning more about data centers — that kind of education inspires action.”
Despite the surging public support for Berens’s stance on data center developments, he has faced criticism from trade unions who advocate for the transient construction jobs associated with such projects.
A notable Wisconsin labor leader voiced her concerns about Berens's perspective in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel op-ed, emphasizing that data centers represent valuable work for many Wisconsin families.
Local officials in Port Washington reacted to Berens’s videos by posting a “fact sheet” aimed at dispelling misconceptions around the project. The mayor expressed frustration over the increased scrutiny following the attention Berens's videos received.
Neitzke stated that the comedian had drawn many outsiders to local council meetings, which compelled the city to relocate meetings due to the surge in attendance and security concerns.
“After Berens’s video, everything escalated,” Neitzke lamented. “Our city was overwhelmed by attention.”
Berens defended his platform, asserting the importance of community voices in decisions that affect not only Port Washington but neighboring areas. He emphasized that his content is well-researched, often citing reliable sources to support his claims.
“I raised awareness about a significant data center project while adding humor,” he explained. “If the truth creates chaos, the mayor should be accountable for that.”
In an attempt to find common ground, Neitzke had previously met with Berens. Though the discussion was friendly, they left with differing viewpoints. The mayor continues to champion the data center project, viewing it as a transformative opportunity for Port Washington, while Berens insists community voices must be heard.
Faced with pushback, Berens is aware of the irony of his position as a comedian who built a career on tech platforms, now rallying against data centers. Nonetheless, he remains steadfast in leveraging his influence to educate others about these disruptive developments.
In his evolution regarding AI, Berens’s initial optimism about the technology's potential to address social issues has shifted. Once inspired by visions of how AI could improve lives, his outlook soured as he witnessed top tech figures prioritize profit over societal benefit.
Referring to OpenAI’s initiatives, including controversial features, Berens questioned whether the community should sacrifice resources for such developments.
“It feels like we’re trading our land for a broken promise,” he remarked.
As his community faces a data center boom that echoes other tech industry ups and downs, Berens believes the environment created by tax incentives has been exploited by wealthy tech companies.
Prescott Balch, an anti-data center activist and former tech executive, shares similar concerns. Balch successfully led the charge against a Microsoft data center project in his hometown of Caledonia and recently earned a position on the village board.
He sees the urgency surrounding data center developments as reminiscent of the dot-com bubble, suggesting that the current enthusiasm may lead to unforeseen pitfalls in the future.
“Too much gets built in overzealous periods,” he commented.
Balch has played a vital role in reviewing Berens's research and analyzing the economics behind these data center proposals, reinforcing the need for informed discussions.
Both men are united in their belief that educational outreach about these projects is critical, using their contrasting styles to engage communities effectively.
On April 7, Port Washington residents voted in favor of the nation’s first anti-data center referendum, exceeding a two-to-one margin. This measure mandates that city officials seek voter approval for tax incremental districts exceeding $10 million.
Although the referendum does not disrupt the existing $15 billion data center development, it poses challenges for future projects above the threshold. Local officials fear this could hinder their competitiveness in the tech landscape.
Reflecting on the momentum behind this grassroots movement, Berens stated, “The heartbeat of the movement lies with proactive community members, representing diverse backgrounds that all care about a unified goal: their community deserves a voice.”
