Microsoft finishes construction of Mount Pleasant data center, plans for more
Microsoft has completed construction and brought online its first massive data center, codenamed "Fairwater," in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, employing nearly 550 people. Construction on a second facility is underway, with completion expected by 2028. The Mount Pleasant village board has also approved plans for up to 15 additional Microsoft data centers over the next decade.
Microsoft has announced the completion and operational status of its first large-scale data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. The facility, referred to as "Fairwater," spans 315 acres and began bringing equipment online in April, now employing approximately 550 full-time staff.
Simultaneously, construction has commenced on a second Microsoft data center adjacent to the first, projected to be finished by 2028. This expansion is expected to increase the local workforce to 800 full-time employees. Mount Pleasant Village President David DeGroot lauded the project as a "historic milestone" for the village and Racine County, anticipating lasting opportunities and economic growth.
In January, the Mount Pleasant village board gave its approval for site plans that could lead to the development of up to 15 more Microsoft data centers over the next ten years. The article notes a general surge in data center construction across the Great Lakes region, driven by demand from artificial intelligence, and acknowledges that some Wisconsin communities have experienced local opposition due to concerns over high energy and water consumption.