How did we get here?
One of the most frequent questions we hear is “How did we get here?”
Below is a timeline for the Microsoft AI data centers and the We Energy Gas power plant
Two projects.
One shared timeline.
Microsoft’s Kenosha data center and the Red Oak Ridge gas power plant, aligned by date.
Data center history compiled October 14, 2026. Gas plant history checked through October 19, 2026. Events appearing together show timing; they do not by themselves establish causation.
Boundary agreement announced
Paris, Somers and Kenosha announce a framework for I-94-area boundaries and sewer/water service. This is the land-use backdrop, not evidence Microsoft was involved then.
Sources: D1
State approves cooperative boundary plan
Wisconsin DOA approves the Kenosha–Somers–Paris plan. It creates growth areas and procedures for transferring Paris territory by attachment.
Sources: D2
Boundary agreement background
Paris places the preferred site in Kenosha/Somers growth areas under the 2017 agreement. This is land-use background; no plant approval occurred then.
Sources: G1
Kenosha signs NDA with Microsoft
Wisconsin Watch / WPR identify May 2024 as the signing month. The exact execution day, signatories and full terms have not been independently checked here.
Sources: D3
Data-center proposal becomes public; operator unnamed
WGTD reports a roughly 243-acre, four-building campus at Burlington Road and 136th Avenue. The city cites an NDA while keeping the operator unidentified.
Sources: D4
Plan Commission hearing and 10–0 recommendation
Commission supports rezoning, an official-map change and a permitted-use amendment. Navix engineer Danielle Tatro says her client will remain unnamed until closing.
Sources: D5
Concept presented; neighbors can speak
Four buildings of 250,000 sq. ft. each, air-cooled chillers and a substation are discussed. Meredith Vandixhorn asks about access; John Holloway expresses support and notes Paris impacts.
Sources: D5
Council holds first readings
Attachment/classification, A-2 to M-2 rezoning and a permitted-use amendment advance. These are first readings, not the final December adoption.
Sources: D6
Attachment, rezoning and map actions adopted
Ordinance 52-24 attaches the Paris parcels; 53-24 rezones A-2 to M-2 Heavy Manufacturing; 54-24 changes permitted-use text. Resolution 174-24 updates the city map.
Sources: D7
Council hearing recorded; no speakers for or against
Minutes record no speakers at the grouped ordinance hearing. That does not mean no earlier participation: the November Plan Commission record contains public comments.
Ordinances published
Council minutes list December 20 publication for Ordinances 52-24, 53-24 and 54-24. Publication date is distinct from the December 16 vote.
Sources: D7
Land acquisition announced; Microsoft publicly named
City/state announcement confirms approximately 240 acres purchased northwest of I-94 and Highway 142. Acquisition had occurred by this date; the individual deed closing dates remain to verify.
Sources: D8
Purchase-price reporting appears
Business Journal reports $34.8 million / 233.5 acres; another report gives $34.16 million. Use approximately $34–35 million as reported, pending reconciliation against deeds and transfer returns.
Grid interconnection request
MISO lists Red Oak Ridge as entry E0012: a gas simple-cycle project in Kenosha County with 1,186 MW requested capacity.
Sources: G4
Somers president supports project
George Stoner writes the PSC supporting Red Oak Ridge and describes the preferred site as partly within the Somers growth area.
Sources: G5
Utility acquisition request
Wisconsin Electric applies to acquire and construct Red Oak Ridge, citing load growth and a very large customer seeking to subscribe. The proposed transaction is separate from construction approval.
Sources: G2
Opposition at Common Council
Residents filled the council meeting, seeking a halt to Microsoft’s proposal.
Sources: D11
Local project presentation
The Town of Paris posts a presentation dated November 25, documenting local outreach before the formal December application.
Sources: G1
Community open house
Invenergy advertises an open house where residents can view details and speak with its team.
Sources: G8
Microsoft changes local-government NDA policy
Microsoft announces it will stop using local-government NDAs and coordinate termination of existing agreements. WPR reports the change March 20.
Draft environmental review
The PSC project page identifies an April 2026 draft environmental impact statement.
Sources: G7
KUAMDC Public Museum town hall
A May 25 participant post reports a town hall held the prior weekend. Event is included with this evidence limit; the exact day needs an organizer record.
Sources: D15
Kenosha NDA terminated
According to the city, as reported by WPR, Microsoft ends its Kenosha NDA. This is a local termination date distinct from the March policy announcement.
Sources: D16
Site plans awaited; Rhode Center forum held
WGTD reports the city awaits Microsoft site plans and an infrastructure development agreement. On June 30, KUAMDC co-sponsors the Rhode Center event with Charlie Berens.
Campaign visibility; separate Mount Pleasant lawsuit
User reports signs/social media increased after Rhode (unverified timing/scale). Sturtevant residents file a July 1 proposed class action over Mount Pleasant noise; this is not a Kenosha-site lawsuit.
Sources:
Public hearings and town comments
Paris posts two hearing recordings and its July 23 submitted letter.
Sources: G1
Written comments close
Paris lists August 3 as the written public comment deadline in the construction case.
Sources: G1
Microsoft connection reported
Wisconsin Watch reports that Microsoft has signed up to purchase electricity from Red Oak Ridge. That does not establish a dedicated line to the Kenosha campus.
Sources: G9
Residents press for moratorium; plans still developing
WPR reports KUAMDC’s push for a pause/referendum. City FAQ says site-plan process is required before permits; Microsoft says it will share more when a development plan is available.
Sources: D16
Draft decision matrix
Paris posts a draft decision matrix dated September 18. The draft is not a final order.
Sources: G1
Parkside forum; latest-status checkpoint
October 7 Parkside forum discusses jobs, utilities, water and accountability; FOX6 reports October 8. The source timeline was researched through October 14, 2026.
County announces PSC meeting
Kenosha County announces the October 15 review and links final environmental impact statement materials.
Sources: G10
Conditional approval vote
PSC announces a conditional CPCN. Its release distinguishes the preliminary vote from the written Final Order, expected in coming weeks.
Sources: G11
Sources
D1 Town of Paris: boundary agreement history
D2 Wisconsin DOA: cooperative-plan approval, Nov. 10, 2017
D3 Wisconsin Watch / WPR: NDAs, Jan. 2026
D4 WGTD: proposal reported, Nov. 15, 2024
D5 City Plan Commission minutes, Nov. 21, 2024
D6 Common Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2024
D7 Common Council minutes, Dec. 16, 2024
D8 County/city-state acquisition announcement, Jan. 27, 2025
D9 Business Journal: land price, Jan. 29, 2025 (headline/preview)
D10 Milwaukee Daily Post: alternative price report, Jan. 29, 2025
D11 WISN: residents at council, Nov. 17, 2025
D12 PSC: Red Oak Ridge summary and case status
D12a PSC: application date / review status table
D13 Microsoft: decision to end local-government NDAs
D14 WPR: NDA policy change, Mar. 20, 2026
D15 Participant report: Museum town hall, posted May 25, 2026
D16 WPR: Kenosha project / moratorium report, Aug. 27, 2026
D17 WGTD: site plans still awaited, Jun. 26, 2026
D18 WGTD: Rhode Center event, Jun. 30, 2026
D19 WPR: Mount Pleasant lawsuit, Jul. 2, 2026
D20 Kenosha County Eye: Oct. 7 Parkside forum announcement
D21 FOX6: Parkside forum coverage, Oct. 8, 2026
G1 Town of Paris - project history, presentation, hearings and comment deadlines
G2 Wisconsin Electric - acquisition application, November 5, 2025 (pp. 10, 14, 24-25)
G3 Invenergy - preliminary engineering plan (pp. 1, 19; posted by Somers)
G4 MISO - ERAS interconnection requests, entry E0012
G5 Somers president - support letter, September 9, 2025
G6 PSC - highlighted construction cases, application date
G7 PSC - Red Oak Ridge project page and environmental-review links
G8 Invenergy - December 11, 2025 community open house
G9 Wisconsin Watch - Microsoft / We Energies contract reporting, August 6, 2026
G10 Kenosha County - October 14, 2026 meeting notice and FEIS links
G11 PSC - October 15, 2026 statement on conditional CPCN approvals