Mount Pleasant commission approves Microsoft’s plans for data center expansion

Microsoft’s latest planned expansion of its sprawling data center development in Mount Pleasant received its first major approval Wednesday.

The tech giant wants to build 15 more data centers in Racine County as part of two new campuses worth more than $13 billion. The expansion comes as the tech giant is already investing more than $7 billion at two other data center campuses in the village.

The Mount Pleasant Plan Commission recommended approval of the site plans for the two new campuses on Wednesday. The company has to meet multiple village conditions, including traffic impact studies, outdoor lighting plans and landscaping plans.

Microsoft must also comply with all local and state rules, “regarding consuming and returning water to the applicable utility systems and watersheds,” according to a village document.

The Mount Pleasant Village Board will vote on the plan commission’s recommendation during a meeting on Monday night. Village Trustee Ram Bhatia, who is also a member of the plan commission, is in support of the expanded plans.

“When you look at the economic impact it’s going to have — not only in the village of Mount Pleasant, but the whole region, Racine County — so I’m very pleased,” Bhatia said in an interview with WPR.

There was no public comment on the agenda during Wednesday’s meeting.

According to village documents, the company plans to build nine data centers at a campus on Durand Avenue on a 791-acre parcel.

The company also submitted plans for six data centers at a campus on International Drive. That development would span around 530 acres. 

Both developments are on land the company purchased in 2024, according to a Microsoft spokesperson. The preliminary plans are “the next step in our years-long development process,” the spokesperson said. 

Microsoft’s data centers in Mount Pleasant will require up to 8.4 million gallons of water each year, according to data released by the city of Racine.

“That was an all encompassing number for all of these sites, so that has not changed from what they’ve previously reported,” Sam Schultz, the community development director for the village, said Wednesday.

In a statement, Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki said the expansion will support “economic growth, family-sustaining careers, and opportunities that benefit our residents and the region.” 

“Microsoft’s continued expansion in Mount Pleasant reflects the strength of Racine County as a place for long-term investment and innovation,” Malicki said in the statement.

Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president and vice chair, recently said the first data center campus in the village is set to be operational sometime this year.

The planned expansion in Mount Pleasant comes months after Microsoft scrapped plans to build a data center on 244 acres in Caledonia, citing “community feedback.” That decision came after dozens of residents spoke out against the plans at village meetings. 

Microsoft has also purchased around 240 acres for a data campus in Kenosha. Last week, Smith said the company is still “working on our plans” for that development, even as residents there have already voiced opposition to the project.