Microsoft data center plans will move forward after Racine County approval

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Microsoft will own more than 1,300 acres in Racine County after gaining approval from the county board and the Village of Mount Pleasant. The tech giant earlier this year announced plans for a billion-dollar data center in land once set aside for Foxconn, opening potential for a decade of construction.

The Racine County Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve Microsoft‘s purchase of 1,030 acres in Areas II and III of the Mount Pleasant Tax Increment District (TID) No. 5. The Village of Mount Pleasant board on Monday also gave its approval for the land sale.

“This is not just a monumental day in Racine County’s history, it’s a historical day in Racine County’s history,” said Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave at the board meeting. “We are lucky through the hard work of many that we’re afforded this opportunity.”

“This opportunity provides one of the most successful, environmentally conscious, great employer for its employees here in Racine County,” he added.

The deal will add to the 315 acres Microsoft has already. In March, the company announced it would invest more than $1.4 billion in the tax increment district by 2028. After the sale is finalized, Microsoft will own a total of 1,345 acres in Mount Pleasant. This would make it one of the largest landowners in the area.

Chicago-based Walsh Construction Company is already building part of the data center on County Road KR and 90th Street. Microsoft expects to invest at least another billion over the next 10 years in buildings, support structures and systems on the rest of the tax increment district land.

As part of the agreement, Foxconn will suspend its development operations in the areas Microsoft purchased. In 2017, the state and local government designated 3,000 acres in Mount Pleasant for a megaproject site for Taiwan-based Foxconn. The company spent $1 billion in capital investments and hired 1,000 people on its campus but struggled to expand.