to Restore Valley Creek Corridor and Advance Water Positivity in Wisconsin
Company supports water revitalization in alignment with local priorities and sustainable commitments to Port Washington community
DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Vantage Data Centers, a leading global provider of hyperscale data center campuses, today announced a $3 million funding commitment to support the watershed-scale Valley Creek Corridor Revitalization Project, a transformative environmental initiative in Port Washington, Wisconsin, managed by the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) and the City of Port Washington. With this investment, Vantage demonstrates its dedication to pursuing water positivity for the recently announced Lighthouse campus, a goal centered on replenishing more water to freshwater sources than the company uses.
Located directly south of the Lighthouse data center campus, the Valley Creek Corridor is a 1.8-mile urban stream system that has suffered from decades of erosion, habitat loss and declining water quality. The project, led by LNRP in partnership with the City of Port Washington and engineering firm Stantec, will restore Valley Creek’s natural flow, stabilize its banks and improve its aquatic health. It will also bring tangible benefits to residents and visitors alike: improving access to the waterway for recreation, reducing flooding in neighborhoods and public parks, and creating a healthier environment for aquatic species and pollinators.
“When I first learned about the Valley Creek Corridor revitalization project, I was struck by the clear and positive impact we could help deliver for the Port Washington community by restoring this waterway,” said Emily Backus, director, sustainability, North America at Vantage Data Centers. “We are proud to lead the construction funding of this restoration to help LNRP and the City of Port Washington bring new life to Valley Creek—improving water flow, protecting biodiversity and enhancing the overall health of the stream corridor, which is a tributary to Lake Michigan.”
A Model for Water Positivity
Vantage’s $15 billion-plus Lighthouse campus is designed to set new sustainability benchmarks. As part of its proposal to the City of Port Washington, Vantage committed to contributing meaningful sustainability benefits to the area, including a promise to achieve water positivity. The investment in the Valley Creek Corridor is Vantage’s first major local initiative to achieve its water positivity goal. By supporting watershed and habitat restoration efforts, the company is ensuring that the ecological balance of the Port Washington region is improved alongside its technological growth.
“Vantage Data Centers’ commitment to help fund the Valley Creek Corridor revitalization project is a critical catalyst for the sustainability, resiliency and preservation efforts of this waterway,” said Amy Lentz, interim director of the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership. “This investment further positions us to unlock grant funds and additional private investment to reach the project’s full $15 million goal. It provides the momentum we need to finalize the design and begin site preparation, secure necessary permits and launch the first phase of construction.”
“After doing our due diligence since January, the Common Council and I determined that this project is a generational opportunity for Port Washington because of the economic, infrastructure and sustainability benefits it will deliver with no risk to the city or its taxpayers,” said City of Port Washington Mayor Ted Neitzke IV. “This new initiative represents yet another example of those benefits. We look forward to a long-term partnership with Vantage Data Centers that will continue to benefit our city, its residents and the entire region.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Vantage Data Centers to Port Washington,” said Rob Vanden Noven, director of public works, City of Port Washington. “Our partnership with Vantage enables us to accelerate the restoration of the Valley Creek Corridor, a resource that serves not only as a natural refuge but also a recreational asset for our community. The city has been working on this project since 2018, and with this additional funding, we are well on our way to achieve our goal of reducing flooding, protecting our infrastructure, improving the environment and transforming our public spaces to serve the community.”
The Lighthouse campus will leverage a closed-loop liquid cooling system that uses minimal water and drives significant energy savings. The campus is expected to use less than 22,000 gallons of water daily, equivalent to approximately 65 residential homes, utilizing the existing city water supply. Vantage will not be contracting for any new private infrastructure or withdrawing or discharging water directly from Lake Michigan.
The Valley Creek Corridor restoration is expected to be completed by late 2028, pending additional funding. To make a financial contribution or partner on the Valley Creek Revitalization Project, please contact Amy Lentz (amy@lnrp.org).
For more information on the sustainability features of Vantage’s Lighthouse campus, visit https://www.vantagedclighthousecampus.com/. For information on LNRP’s municipal support programming, the Coastal Resilience Community Impact Project, visit https://www.lnrp.org/crcip
About Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP)
The Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) is a conservation champion committed to fostering community and partner collaboration from the Niagara Escarpment to the shores of Lake Michigan Through collaboration with local organizations, government agencies and community partners, LNRP leads projects that improve water quality, restore habitats and build climate resilience.
For more information, visit https://www.lnrp.org.
About Vantage Data Centers
Vantage Data Centers is a global leader in digital infrastructure serving the world’s most influential AI and cloud providers. With operations spanning North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage delivers capacity at unrivaled speed and scale, driven by a relentless commitment to operational excellence and customer success. Vantage is empowering transformative companies to shape the future.
For more information, visit http://www.vantage-dc.com.
Contacts
Press Contacts
Mark Freeman
Vantage Data Centers
mfreeman@vantage-dc.com
+1-202-680-4243
Robin Bectel
REQ for Vantage Data Centers
vdc@req.co
+1-202-936-6335
Amy Lentz
Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership
amy@lnrp.org
+1-630-335-5545
