QTS: DeForest, Wisconsin

QTS Data Centers has officially withdrawn its proposal for a massive expansion plan near Madison, Wisconsin, effectively canceling the development of a new data center campus in the Village of DeForest. The company had initially planned a $12 billion investment and committed a separate $50 million to the local community, specifically targeting direct support for DeForest and Vienna within Dane County. However, the project was halted in January 2026 after village officials and staff determined that the proposal was not feasible for the community.

During the initial planning phase, QTS expected to build five data center buildings across approximately 650 acres, with a long-term vision for expansion over the next decade. The Phase 1 concept plan featured buildings ranging from 135,000 to 1.9 million square feet. To facilitate the campus, QTS had filed annexation petitions for a total of approximately 1,600 acres, a move that faced significant scrutiny from the Wisconsin Department of Administration, which ultimately advised that the annexation was not in the public interest.

The project, which would have required zoning approval from the DeForest Village Board, was originally estimated to create over 5,000 construction jobs and hundreds of full-time positions. Despite these potential economic benefits, the proposal met with strong community opposition and concerns regarding transparency and environmental impact. While the DeForest development will not proceed, QTS has stated it will continue its $1.5 million partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to support research into responsible and sustainable data center infrastructure.