Residents in Pine Island continue voicing concerns about the proposed Project Skyway data center, with low-frequency noise emerging as one of the biggest issues.
Experts say the sound produced by large data centers has been linked to short-term effects such as sleep disruption, stress and difficulty concentrating. While the long-term health impacts remain unknown, researchers say those short-term effects are well documented.
“It’s not about how loud it is, but how impossible it is to escape,” Dr. Heidi Ahonen, Founder of the Resonance Research Institute said.
In a statement, Google said it is working to comply with Minnesota law and take steps to prevent noise from becoming an issue. However, experts note that if problems arise, Google would ultimately be responsible for addressing them.
The response has left the community divided. Some residents say they are not convinced the company will follow through if issues develop.
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