Microsoft Says 375 Workers Hired for Mount Pleasant Data Center

Microsoft's data center project in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, is progressing ahead of schedule, with its first facility now operational and 375 full-time employees hired. The company anticipates expanding its workforce to 800 once the second data center is completed, with plans for 15 more data centers at the site. Sean Ryan, spokesperson for the Village of Mount Pleasant, confirmed that Microsoft has already surpassed its committed property value growth target of $1.4 billion by 2028. The broader data center boom in Wisconsin, encompassing projects by Oracle and OpenAI in Port Washington and Meta in Beaver Dam, is generating significant economic interest. Dale Kooyenga, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, highlighted the creation of thousands of long-term jobs. Utility companies We Energies and Alliant Energy are preparing for increased demand, with We Energies' president hinting at more hyperscale data center announcements and Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Commissioner Kristy Nieto noting 12 additional data center plans in Alliant Energy's territory. Despite the economic benefits, data center development is encountering growing public backlash in Wisconsin. A Marquette Law School poll indicates that 70% of residents believe the costs outweigh the benefits, primarily due to concerns over substantial water and energy consumption. A 2025 Clean Wisconsin analysis estimated that the Mount Pleasant and Port Washington projects could collectively require enough energy to power 4.3 million homes. In response to this anticipated demand, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin recently approved new electric rate plans for data center-scale customers from We Energies and mandated that Alliant Energy develop similar rates for its service area.