Hyperscale Data Michigan Data Center, Dowagiac, Michigan

The complaint about Hyperscale Data's data center at 415 East Prairie Ronde Street in Dowagiac, in Cass County, Michigan, is a sound. Mitchell Gourley, who lives across the street, said: "It's almost like having a vacuum cleaner running all the time." Neighbors report 60 to 70 decibels in front of the facility, about the level of an air conditioner or a dishwasher running nonstop.

Residents filed a class action lawsuit in May 2026 against Alliance Cloud Services, a Hyperscale Data subsidiary, saying the plant's cooling fans emit unreasonable and excessive noise with insufficient barriers. Philip Cunningham said he started hearing the noise randomly, with no idea what it was until a neighbor told him it was the new data center. Dowagiac revised its noise ordinance in March 2026, and Gourley said what he wants is simple: "I would just like there would be less noise."

Hyperscale's chief executive, Will Horne, came to a public meeting on July 13, 2026. He said the plant would stop all cryptocurrency mining within three months and shift to AI computing and robot training, cutting noise and adding about 500 jobs. "I want something better for my kids, and I'm sure everyone here wants something better for theirs," he told the room.

The room was not soothed. "How is this better for our community?" one resident called out. Another told Horne: "If you think this is such a great idea for Dowagiac, why haven't you built it in your own backyard to impact your family?" The company offered to buy nearby homes on Louise Avenue from residents who remained unhappy.

On September 1, 2026, Hyperscale confirmed it had shut down all Bitcoin mining at the site, ahead of the three-month deadline Horne had given, to prepare for a California AI company that signed a 20 megawatt lease in June, with an option to grow to 52 megawatts. Hyperscale has also bought 48.5 more acres to expand the site, which it acquired as a 1972 manufacturing building in May 2022.

Mayor Patrick Bakeman said if the noise came down and the jobs came too, "I think that would be the best scenario for everybody."