Residents of Dowagiac, Michigan, have initiated a lawsuit against Alliance Cloud Services LLC, a subsidiary of Hyperscale Data, alleging that its data center has been emitting a high-pitched whining sound continuously for two years. The facility, originally an industrial building, began operating as a cryptocurrency mining center in 2021 before transitioning to AI computing in 2024, at which point the noise issues reportedly intensified.
Dowagiac recently established an industrial noise ordinance, setting limits at 65dB during the day and 55dB at night. The data center has been fined for violating these regulations, though Hyperscale Data is disputing the city's measurement methods. Residents describe the noise as similar to a clogged vacuum cleaner running constantly, causing significant disruption.
Hyperscale Data CEO William Horne informed residents that the company is investing $100 million to pivot operations from cryptocurrency to AI computing and advanced robotics. The company has also acquired adjacent properties to create a natural buffer and is implementing other measures to reduce sound levels. Horne stated that the company would buy properties from residents who remain dissatisfied with the noise levels.
Despite the company's offer, affected residents expressed reluctance to move, citing deep community ties and personal circumstances. Many residents have lived in the area for generations and have established support systems, making relocation a significant hardship. The ongoing noise and the prospect of moving have caused distress among the community.
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Residents in Dowagiac, Michigan, filed a lawsuit against Alliance Cloud Services LLC, a subsidiary of Hyperscale Data, due to continuous high-pitched noise from its data center, which recently pivoted from cryptocurrency mining to AI computing. The city has fined the data center for violating a new industrial noise ordinance, while the company has offered to purchase homes from affected residents.