Neighbors fed up with dust, noise from Microsoft data center construction
Residents in Conover, Catawba County, are complaining about noise and dust from a Microsoft data center construction site. County leaders defend the $1 billion project, stating it diversifies the local economy, creates jobs, and will have minimal impact on water resources. Despite the county's reassurances, some residents feel the data centers are detrimental to the area.
Residents of Conover, North Carolina, located in Catawba County, are voicing strong concerns over the ongoing construction of a new Microsoft data center. Neighbors like Angie, who declined to give her last name, and the couple Jack Pennell and Lisa Sigmon, report persistent noise and dust, negatively impacting their daily lives and properties for the past year. Pennell expressed broader concerns about "too much progression" and the destruction of land in the county.
Catawba County officials and local cities released a statement defending the $1 billion, 10-year Microsoft investment. They emphasized that the project supports thousands of well-paying jobs, diversifies the region's manufacturing base, and leverages Catawba County's position as a fiber optic production hub. Furthermore, county leaders addressed environmental worries, clarifying that the facilities will use less water-intensive cooling methods, projected to consume only 1% of the City of Hickory's daily water capacity. Despite these assurances, residents near the construction remain dissatisfied, challenging the county's development priorities.