Data center campus at the old paper mill (Wisconsin Rapids)
Also called: DC Rapids LLC, PCH WI Holdings LLC, PNK Group data center, Papermill Redevelopment
PNK Group wants to turn about 210 acres of the old paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids into a data center campus with five buildings. City planners voted to recommend saying no, pointing to missing and conflicting information. The City Council will make the final decision.
Where things stand: The Planning Commission voted 7-0 on Sept. 16, 2026 to recommend denial. The City Council is set to make the final decision on Oct. 20, 2026.
🕒 Latest update (Oct 5, 2026): The Planning Commission approved a 12-month pause (moratorium) on new data centers. It does not apply to this application.
Wisconsin Rapids Common Council. Anyone can come and speak.
What we know
- 📍 WhereFormer Verso paper mill site, 950 Fourth Ave. N., along the Wisconsin River, Wisconsin Rapids, Wood County
- 🏢 CompanyPNK Group USA (application filed as PCH WI Holdings LLC / DC Rapids LLC)
- 🏛️ Owned byPNK Group
- 🌳 Size210 acres
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromPower from Consolidated Water Power Company, working with American Transmission Company (ATC)
- 💧 Water10,000 gallons a day
- 👷 Jobs promised70
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How much electricity would the data center use at full power? 🙋 I'll find out
- Who would own and run the data center? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will the City Council follow the Planning Commission and deny the permit on Oct. 20, 2026? 🙋 I'll find out
- Would the company apply again if it is denied? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Dec 2025A plan to put a data center on the old paper mill site first became public.
- April 2026The City Council unanimously approved new zoning rules for data centers: only in heavy industrial areas, at least 400 feet from homes, and with closed-loop or recycled cooling water.
- April 30, 2026The city released the permit application from PCH WI Holdings LLC and a letter naming PNK Group USA as the possible developer.
- May 4, 2026The first public hearing on the permit was put off.
- Sept 16, 2026The Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted 7-0 to recommend denying the permit and site plan. City staff listed 33 problems with the application.
- Oct 5, 2026The Planning Commission approved a 12-month pause (moratorium) on new data centers. It does not apply to this application.
Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
Wisconsin Rapids approved a 12-month pause on new data center projects, citing health, safety and fairness to people who pay power bills. It does not apply to the paper mill application already filed.
✋ Turned down
After a public hearing, the Wisconsin Rapids Planning Commission voted 7-0 against the special permit for the data center planned at the old paper mill (950 Fourth Ave. N.). The Common Council can take final action on October 20, 2026.
📜 Data center rules
Wisconsin Rapids unanimously added data center rules to its zoning code. Data centers need a special permit, can only go in the heavy industrial (M-2) district, and must be at least 400 feet from homes. They also need the power company's OK and must follow water rules.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Papermill Redevelopment · City of Wisconsin Rapids · Oct 2026
- Who is the developer of the proposed Wisconsin Rapids data center? · Wausau Pilot & Review · May 17, 2026
- Wisconsin Rapids' historic paper mill site could become a data center. Residents aren't happy. · WPR · Aug 3, 2026
- Planning commission votes to recommend denial of data center permit · WSAW · Sept 17, 2026
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