Microsoft holds Q&A about Mount Pleasant AI data center

It’s been about one month since Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant residents started noticing a strange, persistent humming noise emanating from Microsoft’s Mount Pleasant artificial intelligence data center campus by 90th Street and County Road KR. “I can hear it inside my house, and that’s what concerns me,” said Donald Briggs, who lives near the data center.Microsoft broke ground on the campus in 2023, and construction will continue in phases through at least 2028, but the first data center meant to help train new AI models will be fully operational later this year.It will be the first out of a series of mega-data centers focused on supporting artificial intelligence, going up around southeast Wisconsin to begin operations. More data centers are still under construction or in planning phases in Port Washington, Beaver Dam and Kenosha.On Thursday, neighbors near Mount Pleasant’s campus brought their complaints directly to Microsoft during a Q&A session at the village hall. Company representatives fielded questions for hours about the current facility and plans for additional centers still under construction. “We hear everything that comes out of that place,” said Mike Rosenbaum, the village president of Sturtevant, who attended the meeting. Rosenbaum said he’s irritated by the data centers’ impact on his community. “It’s my home. It’s my constituents’ home. I don’t need to be driving people out of my village because of some fan noise,” he said.When asked if Sturtevant had a say in the data center’s placement, Rosenbaum confirmed, “We didn’t have a say.” Beth Kane lives one mile from the campus’s data center, which is nearing completion and set to go online later this year.”I lived in an apartment for 18 years to save to build my dream home,” she said. Now, Kane said the situation has become unbearable.”It’s a nightmare. I’ve lived there five years. I want to leave. It’s no longer fun,” she said. “I’ve got headaches. We’ve got box fans running in order to cover the sound at night.” Microsoft declined to answer questions from reporters on-camera Thursday, instead referring back to a statement issued after 12 News broke the story more than two weeks ago: “We’re aware of the noise concerns raised about our Mount Pleasant facility, we’re investigating the root cause, and hope to share an update soon,” the statement reads.The Mount Pleasant village president and communications director also declined interviews but said in a statement: “The company has told us it is investigating, and we await an update on potential ways to quickly address the concerns.” Kane reflected on her hopes for living in Sturtevant.”We wanted to live in a tiny little town where we could feel like we’re out in — I call it God’s country. I know it’s corny,” she said. Mount Pleasant’s code allows construction from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Rosenbaum said he is working with Microsoft and Mount Pleasant to redirect lights away from his village after complaints of light pollution, and has requested a timeline for resolving the humming issue.Top HeadlinesSecurity stops sexual assault, fires shot at Milwaukee Intermodal StationArrowhead High School community fights proposed teacher cutsGov. Evers signs online sports betting bill into lawWATCH Woman injured after car crashes into train in Racine

MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. —

It’s been about one month since Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant residents started noticing a strange, persistent humming noise emanating from Microsoft’s Mount Pleasant artificial intelligence data center campus by 90th Street and County Road KR.

“I can hear it inside my house, and that’s what concerns me,” said Donald Briggs, who lives near the data center.

Microsoft broke ground on the campus in 2023, and construction will continue in phases through at least 2028, but the first data center meant to help train new AI models will be fully operational later this year.

It will be the first out of a series of mega-data centers focused on supporting artificial intelligence, going up around southeast Wisconsin to begin operations. More data centers are still under construction or in planning phases in Port Washington, Beaver Dam and Kenosha.

On Thursday, neighbors near Mount Pleasant’s campus brought their complaints directly to Microsoft during a Q&A session at the village hall. Company representatives fielded questions for hours about the current facility and plans for additional centers still under construction.

“We hear everything that comes out of that place,” said Mike Rosenbaum, the village president of Sturtevant, who attended the meeting.

Rosenbaum said he’s irritated by the data centers’ impact on his community.

“It’s my home. It’s my constituents’ home. I don’t need to be driving people out of my village because of some fan noise,” he said.

When asked if Sturtevant had a say in the data center’s placement, Rosenbaum confirmed, “We didn’t have a say.”

Beth Kane lives one mile from the campus’s data center, which is nearing completion and set to go online later this year.

“I lived in an apartment for 18 years to save to build my dream home,” she said.

Now, Kane said the situation has become unbearable.

“It’s a nightmare. I’ve lived there five years. I want to leave. It’s no longer fun,” she said. “I’ve got headaches. We’ve got box fans running in order to cover the sound at night.”

Microsoft declined to answer questions from reporters on-camera Thursday, instead referring back to a statement issued after 12 News broke the story more than two weeks ago: “We’re aware of the noise concerns raised about our Mount Pleasant facility, we’re investigating the root cause, and hope to share an update soon,” the statement reads.

The Mount Pleasant village president and communications director also declined interviews but said in a statement: “The company has told us it is investigating, and we await an update on potential ways to quickly address the concerns.”

Kane reflected on her hopes for living in Sturtevant.

“We wanted to live in a tiny little town where we could feel like we’re out in — I call it God’s country. I know it’s corny,” she said.

Mount Pleasant’s code allows construction from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Rosenbaum said he is working with Microsoft and Mount Pleasant to redirect lights away from his village after complaints of light pollution, and has requested a timeline for resolving the humming issue.

Top Headlines

WATCH Woman injured after car crashes into train in Racine