Microsoft is facing a class action lawsuit from residents living near its new Fairwater data center campus in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, with plaintiffs alleging that persistent noise from the facility has disrupted daily life and reduced property values.
The lawsuit, filed by three Sturtevant residents, contends that noise generated by the newly operational facility extends well beyond Microsoft’s property. The plaintiffs seek damages and an order requiring the company to further reduce sound emissions. The proposed class action includes residents living within approximately 1.5 miles of the data complex.
According to the complaint, the facility produces continuous industrial noise from multiple systems that support large data centers, including diesel backup generators and mechanical cooling equipment like chillers and HVAC equipment.
Low-Frequency Humming
The lawsuit also argues that the low-frequency humming heard by nearby residents cannot be fully measured by conventional decibel measurements because some of the sound falls within lower-frequency ranges. Plaintiffs allege the continuous nature of the noise has interfered with sleep and the quiet enjoyment of their homes.
In addition to seeking financial damages, the lawsuit claims Microsoft should have incorporated stronger sound reduction measures into the project, including acoustic barriers and improved shielding, to prevent noise from extending beyond the campus.
Microsoft acknowledged the legal action in a statement, saying it is aware of the lawsuit and remains committed to being “a good neighbor” in the communities where it builds and operates data centers.
The legal action follows months of community concerns about Microsoft’s rapidly expanding AI infrastructure project in Racine County. Fairwater recently entered operation as the first completed building in a multi-phase data center complex that Microsoft plans to expand through at least 2028. The development is expected to include additional data center facilities as demand for AI computing capacity continues to grow.
Earlier this year, Microsoft investigated reports from residents describing a distinctive humming sound coming from the site. The company determined that cooling fans were responsible for the tonal noise and said engineering teams implemented modifications designed to reduce it.
In a project update released in June, Microsoft said consultants completed additional testing, installed sound mitigation measures and confirmed through monitoring that the adjustments had resolved the issue. The company added that additional sound reduction components would be installed over the coming months.
Village officials in Mount Pleasant have also stated that no formal noise complaints have been received since Microsoft completed the modifications announced in mid-April. Officials said they remain prepared to respond to future concerns if residents report additional problems.
Complaints Beyond Noise
Noise, however, is only one issue raised by neighbors as construction continues across the extended campus.
Residents have also complained about dust generated by ongoing construction, increased truck traffic, bright construction lighting and the transformation of what was previously a rural landscape.
Microsoft has responded with measures intended to reduce some of those impacts. The company says street sweepers operate for roughly 10 hours each day to limit dust on nearby roads, while tire wash systems have been installed at construction exits to help prevent debris from leaving the site. Construction activity is permitted under local regulations between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., seven days a week.
The project is one of Microsoft’s largest recent data center developments and has already employed thousands of construction workers. Company officials say hundreds of full-time employees now support operations at the first completed facility, with staffing expected to increase as additional phases of the campus are completed.
