Mount Pleasant data center noise complaints, lawsuit filed
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Microsoft's Fairwater Data Center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, by residents complaining about constant noise since its April launch. The plaintiffs allege the noise from turbines and generators significantly disturbs their quality of life, leading many to consider moving.
Residents of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, have initiated a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft's Fairwater Data Center, citing continuous and disruptive noise since the facility became operational in April. The legal action, filed earlier this month by three local residents, targets Microsoft over the persistent low hum emanating from the data center's turbines and generators. Plaintiffs, including Shannon Hein, claim the noise makes it impossible to enjoy their homes, disturbing their peace and quiet in an area they chose for its tranquility. They allege that approximately 1,000 residents within a mile and a half of the 315-acre facility are affected.
While many neighbors support the lawsuit, not all agree on the severity of the issue; Scott Duff, living less than a mile from the data center, states the noise does not bother him. Microsoft has acknowledged the lawsuit, issuing a statement that it is "committed to being a good neighbor in the communities where we build, own, and operate our datacenters." Despite the legal challenge, the Fairwater Data Center has no plans to reduce its operations and anticipates tripling its energy consumption in the coming years.