Microsoft Proposes 15 more Data Centers at Mount Pleasant Project

Microsoft is proposing a massive expansion of its data center footprint in Mount Pleasant. The latest plans reveal 15 additional data centers and related buildings totaling 8.7 million square feet. Jamie Martinson and Brian Noonan, hosts of Civic Media Mornings, discuss the proposal which is scheduled to go before the Village of Mount Pleasant Planning Commission at its upcoming meeting. 

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Listen to Jamie and Brian’s discussion here:

The expansion would take place on land originally designated for the Foxconn development and marks another dramatic shift in the site’s future. One campus along Durand Avenue would include up to nine data centers and office space spanning more than 5 million square feet. It’s valued at close to $8 billion. A second campus along International Drive would add six more data centers worth more than $5 billion.

Both projects would be located within tax increment financing (TIF) districts. This means early property tax revenue would fund infrastructure such as roads and utilities. Once the TIF debt is retired, the developments are projected to generate more than $75 million annually in property taxes for Mount Pleasant, Racine County, local schools, and other governments.

The expansion would also require new electrical substations and significant water use. It’s intensifying concerns about environmental impact and rising utility costs for residents. Microsoft would be required to comply with state and local environmental regulations.

Microsoft is already completing its first Mount Pleasant data center and plans to begin construction on another this year. By the end of 2026, the company is expected to become Racine County’s largest taxpayer, transforming the former Foxconn site into a long-term hub for cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Still, community skepticism remains. Supporters point to tax revenue and economic development. But residents and local officials continue to question how increased energy and water demand could affect utility bills and whether promised benefits will actually materialize as projected. The proposal now moves to county-level review as debate over data centers and the true cost continues across the state.

Recent coverage of data centers by Civic Media:

Communities, state lawmakers continue data center debate

Data centers are coming and utility customers could pay the price

Reality is No Joke: Charlie Berens and Clean Wisconsin Share Concerns about Data Centers