La Crosse Weighs Data Center Limits Amid Water Concerns
La Crosse city and county have passed moratoriums blocking current data center development as local governments question land and water use.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Data Centers
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La Crosse city and La Crosse County have each passed moratoriums blocking current data center development. Local governments have raised questions about how much land and water data centers use.
Why it matters
The moratoriums pause data center projects in La Crosse while officials assess their resource demands. The debate also reflects broader questions about how communities balance economic development with land and water use.
Two local moratoriums currently block data center development in the City of La Crosse and La Crosse County. Officials have not yet quantified the land or water demands that prompted the pauses.
The players
Kurt Bauer
Bauer is director of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and previously served as CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, with a career in industry trade groups.
La Crosse Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a local business organization that hosts luncheons and speakers for its members in La Crosse.
The details
At a Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, Kurt Bauer, director of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, addressed members on data centers. Bauer compared data center water usage to that of municipal golf courses, restaurants and manufacturing facilities.
Timeline
Thursday, week of November 12, 2026: Kurt Bauer speaks to La Crosse Chamber of Commerce members at a luncheon.
Big Picture
La Crosse's moratoriums follow a pattern of Wisconsin local governments pausing data center projects while they assess land and water demands. The debate centers on whether data centers' resource use is comparable to other community water users.
Residents in La Crosse may see current data center projects paused while local officials review land and water use. Anyone interested in future proposals should watch for decisions from city and county governments on the moratoriums.
The takeaway
Data center proposals in La Crosse are on hold while local officials examine how much land and water these facilities would require. Residents interested in the outcome can follow decisions from the city and county.
Further reading
Explore more on Data Centers to see how other communities are weighing these projects.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM.
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