Charlie Berens Among Wisconsin Residents Opposing New Data Center

Among several Wisconsin residents opposing the construction of a new data center and voicing concerns about how its operations would impact the city, a man known for owning any and every microphone joined the chorus of individuals.

That man is comedian Charlie Berens, known for his clever and cheeky sendups of Midwestern culture. A native Oconomowoc, WI, Berens has performed nationally, including right here in Dubuque, but his attention was recently given to a serious matter concerning the residents of Beaver Dam, WI.

About the Beaver Dam AI Data Center:

To start, data centers are large facilities that house computer systems for telecommunications and storage. The AI Boom has led to the rapid growth of the industry, and is leading to a strain on electric grids and rising electricity costs for residents. In short, locals bear the brunt of the social and economic impacts, like water and energy use, while those involved receive the profits.

Beaver Dam residents gathered recently to request more transparency around the construction of a Meta AI Data Center. Per Meta's website, this data center would span over 700,000 square feet and be optimized for some of the company's AI workloads. Meta would invest $1 billion into the facility and promises approximately 1,000 construction jobs and over 100 operational jobs.

Charlie Berens' Crusade Against AI:

This is not the first time Charlie Berens has come out against AI and the ensuing data centers necessary for their operation. In 2025, Berens took to social media to educate people on a council meeting in Port Washington that addressed the village's plans for a 3.5-gigawatt data center, an $8 billion venture:

Via his comedy news series Manitowoc Minute, Berens implored his fans, and residents of Port Washington, to ask themselves questions like: "Will my power bill go up?" and "What chemicals are being put in the water to cool the data centers?" He compared data centers to roundabouts insofar that there are no rules made regarding their operation given they are so new.

In regards to his involvement in the recent Beaver Dam council meeting, Berens had a pointed and succinct response to the prospect of a data center coming to the community:

If you're time and again being cut out of the loop, out of the decision-making process, are the jobs worth that? I think the better question is why can't we protect people like we protect the bottom line - Charlie Berens, per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

At this time, there are two data center proposals in the town of Beaver Dam, WI. Read more about it on WKOW's website.