Sturtevant residents near Microsoft angry about data center noise, tech giant says they're finding a solution

Sturtevant, Wisconsin residents have voiced strong opposition to a nearby Microsoft data center in Mount Pleasant, citing significant disruptions to their quality of life from continuous noise and excessive lighting. During a Microsoft community office hour event on April 9 at Mount Pleasant Village Hall, residents like Sarah Daam expressed anger over the lack of consultation regarding the "massive project," particularly the persistent hum of cooling fans from the data center's closed-loop water cooling system. Residents in the Majestic Hills and Chicory Creek subdivisions report being unable to sleep and unable to enjoy their backyards due to the noise, which they say is audible even through closed windows. Sturtevant Village President Mike Rosenbaum, also present at the meeting, confirmed hearing the hum from his home and communicated with Mount Pleasant President Dave DeGroot, who informed him that acoustics engineers were on site. A representative from Mueller Communications, Microsoft’s local PR firm, confirmed the engagement of engineers and the company's commitment to finding a solution promptly, with a formal report on proposed fixes anticipated within 15 days. Krysta Venegas, Microsoft’s community engagement representative, apologized for the frustrations, explaining that the current data center design was new for the company, leading to unanticipated noise issues they are now actively investigating to prevent recurrence in future development phases. Beyond the immediate nuisance, residents and officials expressed frustration over Sturtevant's complete exclusion from the project's community engagement process, despite the campus bordering the village. Rosenbaum highlighted the economic consequences for Sturtevant, noting that adjacent farmland intended for single-family housing development is now untenable due to the noise, impacting the village's tax base. Tom Rutkowski, a Racine County Board supervisor, also raised concerns about the facility's electricity demands, despite Microsoft's environmental commitments. Sturtevant has already filed a noise and light complaint with the Wisconsin DNR. While not currently pursuing litigation, Rosenbaum stated the village would "100%" consider legal action if Microsoft fails to provide a remediation timeline within a month.