Microsoft Backs Off New Information Middle After Small Wisconsin City Backlash

Regardless of Massive Tech pouring billions into AI infrastructure initiatives, not everybody needs a large knowledge middle of their yard.

Microsoft has ditched plans for a knowledge middle in Caledonia, Wisconsin, after dealing with pushback from the local people.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Wednesday that the tech large canceled its utility for the present website however remains to be in search of to develop a knowledge middle someplace in Caledonia or the broader southeastern Wisconsin space.

Dubbed Undertaking Nova, the complicated was reportedly deliberate as a 244-acre facility containing three knowledge middle buildings and a 15-acre electrical substation close to the We Energies Oak Creek Energy Plant. It might have been Microsoft’s third deliberate knowledge middle within the state.

In an announcement offered to Gizmodo, Microsoft stated:

Primarily based on the neighborhood suggestions we heard, we’ve chosen to not transfer ahead with this website; we stay dedicated to investing in Southeast Wisconsin and look ahead to working with the Village of Caledonia and Racine County leaders to determine a website that aligns with neighborhood priorities and our long-term growth targets.

The information comes as knowledge middle initiatives are popping up throughout the U.S. in an effort to construct out the vital infrastructure for extra highly effective AI fashions and justify the staggering investments tech firms are sinking right into a race for superintelligence.

OpenAI’s Stargate project consists of plans for knowledge facilities in Texas, Ohio, and New Mexico. Meta is constructing new AI knowledge facilities in Ohio and Louisiana. And simply this month, Google introduced plans for a brand new data center in Arkansas.

Caledonia is likely one of the few cities which have been capable of halt these expensive initiatives. In September, Google additionally withdrew a rezoning proposal for a 468-acre knowledge middle in Indianapolis.

Caledonia residents who opposed the plan launched a web site referred to as Stop Project Nova, the place they listed issues together with larger electrical payments, energy grid instability, and lightweight air pollution.

Moreover, native station Fox 6 Milwaukee reported in September that greater than 100 residents attended a public assembly to share issues in regards to the challenge’s environmental affect, together with using water from Lake Michigan.

Nonetheless, Microsoft’s different knowledge middle plans within the area stay on observe.

Final month, the corporate stated it’s within the remaining phases of its Fairwater website, which it’s calling the world’s most powerful AI data center, in Mount Nice, Wisconsin. The power may log on as quickly as subsequent 12 months.

Microsoft additionally introduced on the time that it’s investing one other $4 billion to construct a second, equally sized knowledge middle close by.