Wisconsin Residents Sue Microsoft Over Noise Pollution from Data Center

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Microsoft in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, alleging that the company’s Fairwater data center is causing excessive noise pollution. The plaintiffs, three residents of Sturtevant, claim that the facility’s operation and maintenance have resulted in unreasonable and excessive noise on their properties, causing property damages through private nuisance and negligence.

The lawsuit comes as part of a growing trend of communities pushing back against the construction of data centers, which are often criticized for their environmental impact. Data centers require massive amounts of energy to power AI development and other computing needs, leading to concerns about air pollution, water usage, and increasing energy costs. Communities in several states have launched protests and pushed for legislation to regulate or halt the construction of these facilities.

The Fairwater data center is part of a larger campus that Microsoft plans to build on, with both the company and electronics manufacturer Foxconn planning to expand their operations there in the coming years. The facility has already generated complaints about noise pollution from diesel generators and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

According to the lawsuit, the plaintiffs have experienced significant disruptions due to the excessive noise produced by the data center’s HVAC systems, including chillers, cooling towers, air-handling units, and condenser fans. The suit also claims that Microsoft has failed to implement adequate acoustic barriers or shields to mitigate the escape of noise beyond its property.

The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages for the plaintiffs’ losses due to the data center’s operation. In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Microsoft stated that the company is ‘aware of the lawsuit related to our facility in the Village of Mount Pleasant.’

Microsoft has made efforts to address noise complaints from residents in the past. In April, the company investigated humming noises coming from the data center’s cooling fans and implemented changes to mitigate the issue. The tech giant announced that it had fixed the problem by June.

However, despite these efforts, residents living near the data center continue to express concerns about its impact on their quality of life. Larry Neumiller, a resident who has lived in the area for nearly 40 years, stated that not only have dump trucks been a constant bother but dust from construction sites is constantly blowing around.

Dust and light pollution are just some of the issues faced by residents living near the data center. Resident Roger Johansen complained about the bright lights used during construction work, which he said has ruined his ability to see the stars at night. Another resident, Brian Schue, expressed concerns that the area had become a ‘dust bowl’ due to the constant dust from construction.

Microsoft’s project website notes that street sweepers will operate for approximately 10 hours per day to address the dust issue. However, despite these efforts, residents continue to express frustration with the data center’s impact on their community.

The village leadership in Mount Pleasant has expressed support for the data center, calling it a ‘historic milestone’ for the area. Village President David DeGroot stated that the data center is part of an effort to create one of the most advanced technology campuses in the world.