The Sierra Club released a report documenting that Wisconsin's coal and gas power plants consume 1.34 trillion gallons of water annually for cooling and steam generation. The analysis, titled "Thirsty Power: Coal and Gas Will Leave Us High and Dry," examines the water intensity of the state's fossil fuel infrastructure and warns of mounting pressure on freshwater supplies as technology companies plan to expand data center operations across Wisconsin.

Coal and gas facilities account for the overwhelming majority of thermoelectric water consumption in the state. These plants require enormous volumes of cooling water to condense steam back into liquid form after it drives turbines. Wisconsin's lakes and rivers currently supply this demand, but the model faces stress as demand grows. Data centers, which require substantial electricity to operate servers and cooling systems, would intensify pressure on both the grid and water resources if powered by existing fossil fuel plants.

The report arrives as Wisconsin confronts competing water demands. The state holds roughly 9 percent of the world's surface freshwater, but that abundance masks localized depletion risks and interbasin transfer concerns. Power generation already ranks among the largest industrial water users in Wisconsin, competing with agriculture, manufacturing, and municipal systems.

The Sierra Club's analysis frames water consumption as a critical climate and resource planning issue. As temperatures rise, cooling water availability becomes less reliable during drought periods. Thermal pollution from heated discharge also affects aquatic ecosystems. The group argues that transitioning to renewable energy sources like wind and solar would sharply reduce water demand since those technologies require minimal cooling water compared to conventional thermal generation.

Data center developers seeking locations in Wisconsin have cited the state's abundant water and electricity. However, the Sierra Club's findings suggest that pairing massive new computing facilities with aging fossil fuel plants creates a false economy. Long-term water security requires decoupling economic growth from thermoelectric demand.

The report calls for Wisconsin policymakers to priorit