Michigan Residents Sue Data Center Owner Over Noise Pollution
Residents in Dowagiac, Michigan, have filed a class-action lawsuit against Alliance Cloud Services LLC due to persistent noise from a local data center. The city has also fined the company for violating sound ordinances.
Dowagiac, Michigan residents are pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Las Vegas-based Alliance Cloud Services LLC over persistent noise emanating from its Hyperscale Data center. Since 2024, inhabitants have reported a constant, intrusive sound that permeates their homes and makes outdoor activities difficult.
Local news coverage of the issue has garnered over 700,000 views online, with many commenters expressing solidarity with the Dowagiac community. One resident described the noise as akin to a vacuum cleaner left running inside a living room, while another likened it to sound torture. The city has also issued fines to the data center for exceeding noise limits, set at 65 decibels during the day and 55 at night.
Hyperscale CEO William Horne has stated the company plans to reduce noise levels in the coming months as its operations shift from cryptocurrency mining to AI computing. He also offered to purchase the properties of dissatisfied residents, a proposal widely criticized as insulting by locals and online commentators.
Laura Sheets, an attorney with Liddle Sheets representing the residents, emphasized that the data center does not have the right to substantially interfere with property use and enjoyment. Amidst growing opposition and legal action, various local governments across the U.S. are enacting measures to restrict data center development. New York has banned new large data center construction, with other municipalities implementing similar moratoriums.