Ricardo TorresCaitlin Looby
The Microsoft data center in Mount Pleasant would use up to 2.8 million gallons of Lake Michigan water in 2026, according to records released Sept. 17 by the city of Racine.
That water usage could soar to more than 8.4 million gallons with anticipated expansion of the data center that's now under construction, according to the records which the media and environmental groups asked to see months ago. Midwest Environmental Advocates sued Racine over the delay Sept. 15 and the records were released to the group and the Journal Sentinel two days later.
Microsoft says it is taking steps to reduce the amount of water required to keep data center equipment cool and functioning properly.
"Our data center campus in Mount Pleasant leverages the latest and most innovative cooling technology available. In past data center designs, water has played a key role in data center cooling and humidification, but our new designs aim to eliminate this continuous need for municipal water for cooling," the company said in a statement.
"The bottom line is that this data center, and others we build in the future, will not require massive amounts of water."
The Racine records say the anticipated the peak water demand for the Microsoft data center to be 234,000 gallons per day and wastewater discharge back into Lake Michigan to be 81,000 gallons per day at its peak for what was is labeled "Area 3B."
Annually, Area 3B could use up to 2,814,000 gallons of water per year with wastewater discharge of 2,031,000.
Area 3B, where Microsoft has phase one of its data center operating, and another parcel, Area 3A, were originally part of the failed Foxconn Technology Group project. It now appears that Microsoft plans to take control of that area and another site, Area 2, north of Foxconn on Braun Road.
Area 2 was initially reserved for Foxconn to purchase for potential expansion as part of the agreement with the village of Mount Pleasant and Racine County, but in 2023 Microsoft gained the right to those parcels of land.
Water usage for all of Area 2 and 3 could be as high as 702,000 gallons per day and 8,442,000 per year, the city records say. The wastewater discharge for the area is 243,000 per day and 6,093,000 per year.
The initial water usage is lower than what was approved for Foxconn in 2018. At the time, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved for 7 million gallons of water to be used on a daily basis, with roughly 5.8 million reserved for Foxconn. The Foxconn facility was to be a high tech manufacturing operatio -- far different from the data centers which are huge buildings filled with computer servers.
Lawsuit filed before documents released
The Midwest Environmental Advocates sued Racine on behalf of Milwaukee Riverkeeper in Racine County Circuit Court .
Racine Mayor Cory Mason said city officials needed additional time to fulfill the request to make sure whatever documents it released did not violate contractual agreements.
“Open and transparent government is not optional; it is essential to public trust," Mason said in a statement.
"While we needed time to ensure that we handled this request responsibly and in compliance with legal agreements, we believe transparency is paramount. The information has been released, and we remain committed to making all relevant government records accessible so our community can see how decisions are made and resources are used.”
Peg Schaeffer, communications director for Midwest Environmental Advocates, questioned the Mason and the city's reasoning for the delay in an emailed statement to the Journal Sentinel.
"The Mayor’s statement about Racine’s commitment to transparency is a real head scratcher. It took seven months, and a lawsuit, just to get the city to release a single piece of paper," the statement reads.
"Most reasonable people would agree that's the exact opposite of transparency, and it’s a pattern that simply can’t continue. People have a right to know what kind of impact data centers will have on their communities, and they shouldn't have to file a lawsuit to find out."
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1 comment:
Kudos to JT Irregulars for exposing the City of Racine scofflaws regarding open records and forcing City of Racine officials to respond.
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