Microsoft Finishes Constructing Mount Pleasant Data Center, Plans More
Microsoft has completed its first data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, which is now fully operational and employing 550 people. Construction of a second data center is underway, expected to be completed by 2028. The Mount Pleasant village board has approved site plans for up to 15 additional Microsoft data centers.
Microsoft has finished construction of a significant data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, which became fully operational in April and currently employs approximately 550 full-time staff. This facility, known internally as "Fairwater," is a major development for the area.
Concurrent with the completion of the first center, construction has commenced on a second Microsoft data center adjacent to the initial site, with an anticipated completion date of 2028. Upon its full operation, Microsoft projects an increase in local full-time data center employees to 800. Furthermore, the Mount Pleasant village board granted approval in January for site plans encompassing up to 15 additional Microsoft data centers, which could be developed over the next decade.
Mount Pleasant Village President David DeGroot lauded the construction as a "historic milestone" for the village, emphasizing its potential to create lasting opportunities and strengthen the regional economy. While data center expansion is noted across the Great Lakes region due to AI demands, some Wisconsin communities have voiced concerns regarding the high energy and water consumption associated with these facilities.