Journalist Aya Miller, who posts as @ayathetigress, recently visited a data center in Dowagiac, Michigan, and filmed a homeowner measuring the sound levels coming from the facility, according to her TikTok video. In the video’s on-screen text, Miller wrote, “This is the sound emitted 24/7 from a 30 megawatt data center in Dowagiac, MI measured from a homeowner’s porch.”
The sound level meter shown in the video appears to display a reading between 58 and 63 decibels. In the video, the homeowner can be heard pointing out the readings, saying, “You can see it’s in the high 58’s, 59’s to 60’s.”
In the caption, Miller added more context about the facility’s plans. “Hyperscale Data Inc. recently announced they plan a substantial expansion of the facility,” she wrote. She also wrote, “Multiple residents have sued over the sound emissions.”
Concerns over data centers extend well beyond Michigan
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only one-in-three Americans approve of the rapid expansion of data centers around the country. 57% said that they will not support data centers being built in their neighborhood. Data centers are large buildings that hold servers, networking equipment, cooling systems, and other infrastructure that, according to the report, keep digital services running.
Brobible points out that people who live near these structures have raised several concerns about how the facilities affect their communities. Many residents are said to worry about water use, higher utility bills, air quality, and noise pollution. While much of the public attention has focused on the environmental side of these facilities, the report indicates that for those living nearby, the constant noise can become a problem on its own.
That concern appears to be shared more widely. According to a recent Heatmap Pro survey, 71% of Americans said they would oppose a data center project near their home, while 55% said they would “strongly” oppose it. These figures, as reported, suggest a broad level of public resistance to such projects.
According to Hyperscale Data Inc., its mission is to “empower AI-focused businesses and other businesses requiring high-density power with reliable, scalable, and secure hosting solutions.” In a recent announcement, Hyperscale Data said it was in advanced talks for a deal that would support 20 megawatts of AI compute capacity at its Michigan data center campus.
Opposition to new data centers has appeared elsewhere as well, including when locals reacted to a land sale tied to a planned facility in Texas. Nearby residents, however, are reportedly strongly opposed to the center’s operation. As Miller reported for M Live, two residents living near the data center at 415 E. Prairie Ronde St. are suing Alliance Cloud Services, which is described as a subsidiary of Hyperscale Data Inc. that operates the facility.
The complaint was reportedly filed on May 26 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. According to the complaint, the data center is allegedly “physically invading” nearby properties through “excessive noise.”
The filing also alleges that Alliance Cloud Services failed to use adequate soundproofing, acoustic barriers, low-noise cooling systems, or other measures to keep the sound from spreading beyond the property. The lawsuit further claims the noise has interfered with residents’ ability to use and enjoy their homes and has reduced their property values.
In the comments section of the video, viewers appeared disturbed by what they saw. Several questioned why the facilities are placed in residential areas. “Why do data centers need to be near people? Why can’t they be in the middle of nowhere?” one user wrote.
Another commenter said the noise level seemed unusual based on their own experience. “I don’t understand this, I worked at a data center in Germany and there was no noise emitted to the outside. this feels like they see doing this intentionally,” they wrote. Disputes over noise measurement have surfaced in other settings too, like where a renter questioned a decibel recording device listed on an apartment lease.
Some viewers pointed toward possible legal action. “Id file lawsuits now. There are legal levels of noise pollution that this clearly is above. They should be liable for any future hearing damage of the area surrounding these centers,” one commenter said. One viewer described the experience in more vivid terms. “It’s like a horror movie but the climax never happens,” they wrote.
Others questioned how the noise could be allowed at all. “How is this not illegal ??? Noise pollution??? Disturbing the peace ????public nature??? unreasonable disruption???? Interference??? LEGAL PRIVATE NUISANCE???” one commenter asked.
Published: Jun 18, 2026 03:35 pm