Aurora residents say data center noise is disrupting daily life
Residents in Aurora, Illinois, are experiencing significant noise pollution from an existing CyrusOne data center, which they describe as a constant, house-shaking hum. Despite the company's efforts to mitigate the sound with a rooftop wall, neighbors continue to be impacted and are sharing their experiences with other communities debating data center development.
Residents in Aurora, Illinois, are reporting ongoing noise issues from a CyrusOne data center that has been operating in their neighborhood since 2016. According to WAND News, the 109-megawatt facility produces a constant hum, which some residents, like Laura Evans, describe as being as loud as a helicopter at its worst and a nerve-wracking tonal noise at best.
Neighbors have measured audio levels reaching 80 decibels, comparable to a constantly running food blender, and question why the city allowed the data center to be built near their homes. Despite CyrusOne installing a permanent rooftop sound wall and stating it will work with Comet Electrical Infrastructure to minimize generator runtime and avoid overnight operations, residents like David Zala feel the noise is still a significant disruption. They are now sharing their experiences with other communities in central Illinois to caution county leaders and data center developers to consider the detrimental effects on residents' quality of life before approving new facilities.