Cloverleaf Withdraws from Major Wisconsin Data Center Project
January 14, 2026
Cloverleaf Infrastructure has terminated its plans to develop a major data center campus in Greenleaf, Wisconsin, marking a significant setback for a project that aimed to establish a new hub for digital infrastructure in the state's northeastern region. The decision underscores the growing challenges of community acceptance and local regulatory approval facing rapid data center expansion, particularly in areas unaccustomed to such large-scale industrial developments.
According to the company's chief development officer, Cloverleaf abandoned the proposal after local officials indicated that "the village of Greenleaf is now off the table" for the project. The Village of Greenleaf Board was scheduled to discuss the proposal for the 500-acre campus on January 14, but the meeting was rendered moot by the developer's withdrawal. The company had been quietly acquiring land in the area, with offers to residents reportedly ranging between $50,000 and $120,000 per acre for parcels located between Highway 57 and the East River.
The failed Greenleaf project is not Cloverleaf's only venture in Wisconsin. The company, founded in February 2024 to capitalize on the AI-driven demand for data center capacity, holds approximately 1,900 acres of land near Port Washington. A portion of that southeastern Wisconsin site is slated for development by operator Vantage Data Centers, as reported last June. Cloverleaf, which operates as a powered land provider, secures sites and arranges for power infrastructure upgrades before partnering with or selling to data center operators. The company is also pursuing similar projects in Georgia and Michigan.
The collapse of the Greenleaf plan highlights the complex dynamics of site selection beyond mere land and power availability. While Wisconsin has seen growing interest from data center developers, most existing facilities cluster around the Milwaukee area. The industry's push into new territories often meets with scrutiny over environmental impact, land use, and community character, factors that ultimately led local officials in Greenleaf to reject the project's path forward. This case may serve as a cautionary tale for other developers targeting regions without an established data center presence, emphasizing the critical need for early and sustained community engagement.
Source: datacenterdynamics
