And there really ought to be a law to prevent any such thing from ever happening where elected officials sign agreements to keep secrets from the communities they serve.
I have been hearing about NDAs a lot in relation to data center project plans in Pennsylvania and in Wisconsin, and it’s shocking how this has really become not uncommon. This is not acceptable, and the defense of it that was given by officials at the Wisconsin data center town meeting that I reviewed was so nonsensical. It was off the charts mansplaining bizsplaining which just shocks the conscience if you believe in democracy and just makes no sense.
My letter to reps:
Have you signed a non-disclosure agreement about data center plans to keep your dealings with them secret from the people you’re supposed to represent? Like I heard has happened elsewhere. Public officials should be prohibited from signing NDAs. And any public official who’s done so needs to resign because if you do this it’s proof that you don’t understand the job of representing the people. This practice of elected officials signing NDAs needs to be outlawed and punishable with jail time.
Please feel free to copy or repurpose for your own letters to reps.
The Secret Cost of Data Centers Corrupt nondisclosure agreements hide Big Tech’s impact on communities. Pat Garofalo and Sumitra Rajagopal Aug 11, 2025 This lack of transparency was due to nondisclosure agreements, often referred to by the shorthand NDAs, which regular readers here will know are a common feature of economic development deals. These NDAs — which have been signed by governors, mayors, state legislators, and state and local economic development officials all across the county — keep community members, as well as policymakers who don’t sign them, in the dark about key details, up to and including the identity of the corporation that is in line to benefit from public resources. And they prevent those who do know the details from divulging them to the community. Not only has Project Blue been shelved by the council, but Tucson and Pima County officials are reportedly examining ways to reform their nondisclosure agreement processes to ensure a repeat episode doesn’t occur. More states and localities should consider doing the same, because economic development NDAs are corrupt under any circumstance.
PBS – Nondisclosure agreements are rare in government. Here’s why Aug 14, 2018 6:35 PM EDT
CEA – 03/31/2022 Co-Founds “Ban Secret Deals” Coalition to End Use of NDAs in Subsidy Deals