Permits
Permits checklist
1 restricted · 1 granted · 2 checked, nothing on file
Approvals on record, and how the city reversed course.
- ‖Zoning code change RestrictedMenomonie City Council · Jan. 2026: unanimous; removes data centers from the warehousing definition and effectively blocks the project News report · Jan. 2026
- ✓Annexation and rezoning GrantedMenomonie City Council · Aug. 4, 2025: council members said they had not been told the end user or power demand News report · Aug. 2025
- –Checked, nothing on file: Air permit, Utility commission filing
Risks
Why it stopped, what could revive it
- HighCity has blocked itThe city withdrew support and then changed its zoning code so the project cannot go ahead as planned. News report · Jan. 2026
- MediumOrganized oppositionOpposition grew sharply after the August 2025 approval, and the city reversed course within two months. News report · Sept. 2025
- WatchNo power planNo capacity figure, service agreement or regulator filing exists for the site. see Permits
Power
Power and the grid
Sources on record, size not disclosed
- Xcel Energy grid (Northern States Power Wisconsin) Talks only, nothing filedthe city has no electric utility; the developer was working directly with Xcel and state regulators; no capacity published News report · Sept. 2025
Getting on the grid
- City council members said they were never told the projected power demand or the end user. News report · Oct. 2026
- Xcel's June 2026 proposal would make customers adding 100 MW or more pay all costs of new lines and plants; it is a general tariff, not tied to this project. News report · June 2026
Money
Money on record
$1.6B investment cited by the developer (press) (no financing or tenant disclosed). News report · Sept. 2025
Timeline
What happened, and what is due
SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
- Aug. 2023Paper trail The state economic development agency signs a nondisclosure agreement with Balloonist LLC (press) News report · Oct. 2026
- Feb. 2024Paper trail The city signs its own nondisclosure agreement with Balloonist News report · Aug. 2025
- Aug. 4, 2025Permits City council approves annexation and rezoning of about 320 acres News report · Aug. 2025
- Sept. 2025Money Balloonist says up to $1.6B would be invested (press) News report · Sept. 2025
- Sept. 22, 2025Site The mayor says he has told the developer the city is no longer interested News report · Sept. 2025
- Jan. 2026Permits Council unanimously changes the zoning code, effectively blocking the project News report · Jan. 2026
The buildings
Specs
Who is involved
Owners, partners and builders
Developer
- Balloonist LLC: Delaware special-purpose company for an unnamed Fortune 50 tech firm
Government
- City of Menomonie: Mayor Randy Knaack; City Administrator Eric Atkinson
- Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation: early nondisclosure agreement
Utility
- Xcel Energy (Northern States Power Wisconsin): area utility
Still unknown
Open questions
- Who the end user is.
- Whether the developer still holds the land or challenges the zoning change.
- Power demand in MW.
Where this comes from
24 records from 8 documents
Drawn from news reports, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.
News report 8
Evidence
Every quote behind this page
Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.
Power (3)
- Xcel Energy (Northern States Power Wisconsin) filed a proposal with the PSCW in June 2026 requiring data centers and other large customers to pay all costs tied to their projects, including new transmission lines and pow“the utility filed an application Monday with the Public Service Commission. The proposal requires data centers or other large customers to pay all costs tied to new transmission lines or power plants needed to meet their energy demand.”News report · June 2026 · grade C
- Menomonie has no municipal electric utility; City Administrator Eric Atkinson stated Balloonist is coordinating directly with Xcel Energy and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission on power supply. No capacity figure, i“City Administrator Eric Atkinson stated the city does not operate its own electric utility and that Balloonist is coordinating directly with Xcel Energy and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to address power supply needs.”News report · Sept. 2025 · grade C
- Project status: after the Aug 4, 2025 annexation/rezoning approval (~320 acres, up to $1.6B), opposition escalated; on Sep 22, 2025 Mayor Knaack said he had drafted a memo to Balloonist stating the city was no longer int“In a meeting on September 22, Mayor Randy Knaack said that he had drafted a memo to developer Balloonist LLC stating that the city was no longer interested in pursuing the project.”News report · Sept. 2025 · grade C
Money and contracts (3)
- On September 22, 2025 Mayor Randy Knaack sent Balloonist LLC a memo stating the city was no longer interested in the project, citing the developer's failure to maintain a public park that was part of the agreement and to“city was no longer interested in the project due to Balloonist’s failure to maintain a public park (which was part of the agreement) and to fulfill other amenities criteria”News report · Sept. 2025 · grade C
- $1.6B investment claimed; concept plan of up to 15 buildings plus equipment yards; about 75,000 gallons per day of water; 50-75 permanent jobs claimed“Balloonist LLC, which reportedly represents an unnamed tech company, revealed in September that as much as $1.6 billion would be invested as part of the project's development.”News report · Sept. 2025 · grade C
- Project identity: Project Balloonist: proposed data center campus on about 320 acres of farmland north of I-94 between 650th and 690th Avenues, City of Menomonie, Dunn County, WI; developer Balloonist LLC, a Delaware spe“The city approved annexation and rezoning of the land for a data center campus in Menomonie, which a company going by the name Balloonist is set to develop.”News report · Aug. 2025 · grade C
Permits and government (6)
- Project status: blocked city withdrew support 2025 restrictive zoning adopted Jan. 2026“By January 2026, the Menomonie City Council had unanimously passed a new zoning ordinance that effectively blocked the project from moving forward.”News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
- Project status: BLOCKED / STALLED: the City Council approved annexation and rezoning on August 4, 2025, but in September 2025 Mayor Randy Knaack told the developer the city was no longer interested (developer arrears on“In January 2026, the City Council unanimously adopted a new zoning ordinance that reversed the previous definition that “warehousing includes data centers,” effectively blocking the project.”News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
- Menomonie City Council:“In January 2026, the City Council unanimously adopted a new zoning ordinance that reversed the previous definition that “warehousing includes data centers,” effectively blocking the project.”News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
- The City Council approved Balloonist's annexation and rezoning request on Aug 4, 2025; organized opposition intensified immediately afterwards and the city reversed course within two months“Opposition to the plan became particularly pronounced following August 4, which is when the City Council approved Balloonist's request to rezone and annex an approximately 320 acre land parcel”News report · Sept. 2025 · grade C
- County code: 55033“Data Center Dynamics reports the Menomonie City Council voted to push forward the annexation and rezoning for a large-scale data center”News report · Aug. 2025 · grade C
- Menomonie City Council:“The city approved annexation and rezoning of the land for a data center campus in Menomonie, which a company going by the name Balloonist is set to develop.”News report · Aug. 2025 · grade C
Site and other (1)
- Balloonist LLC was also the shell company on Meta's Beaver Dam data center NDA (Aug 2023); the shared shell does NOT make the Menomonie operator Meta, and the Menomonie end user was never disclosed“Beaver Dam — 19 months: The NDA for the Meta data center now under construction in Beaver Dam, also signed in August 2023 by Balloonist”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C