Neighbors of the "world's most powerful AI data center" say a constant hum has driven them inside their own homes — and now they're taking Microsoft to federal court.
⚖️ **LEGAL** — A federal class-action lawsuit in the Eastern District of Wisconsin targets Microsoft's $7.3 billion Fairwater AI campus in Mount Pleasant. Residents within 1.5 miles of the 315-acre site — roughly 1,000 people — say a low-frequency hum from diesel generators, chillers, cooling towers and condenser fans has pushed them indoors since the facility went online in April. They want damages and a court order to stop the sound; Microsoft blames cooling fans running hard during startup. (Source: FOX6 Milwaukee / WPR / TechRadar)
🚨 **COMMUNITY** — The data center backlash hit the streets: 142 protests across 42 states in the first coordinated national mobilization against the AI buildout. Texas led with 18 events, Georgia had 11, California 8. HumansFirst — co-founded by a former Tea Party leader — coordinated the day, and in Botetourt County, Virginia, dozens lined Route 220 against a planned Google data center. Reuters/Ipsos polling finds just 14% of Americans would welcome a data center in their community. (Source: Reuters / US News / WSLS)
🏛️ **POLICY** — Van Buren Township, Michigan granted Google roughly $125 million in property tax breaks over 12 years for its "Project Cannoli" data center near Detroit Metro Airport — a facility expected to draw more power than 750,000 homes. Some residents responded by launching a push to recall the entire township board. (Source: MLive / Strisker)
⚡ **POWER** — Wisconsin's Public Service Commission refused to reopen its data center tariff case, keeping strict rules that require any data center rated below A-/A3 to post collateral before taking service. Vantage, Cloverleaf and WEC Energy Group had warned the rules could cost Oracle more than $100 million a year; the Citizens Utility Board backed keeping ratepayer protections. (Source: WisBusiness / La
