Microsoft Invests $7 Billion in Wisconsin AI Data Centers

Microsoft (MSFT, Financials) is investing more than $7 billion to build two hyperscale artificial intelligence data centers in Wisconsin, a project the company says will set new standards for scale, resilience, and sustainability.

The first site, called Fairwater in Mount Pleasant, carries a $3.3 billion price tag and is expected to go live in early 2026. A second facility of similar size will bring Microsoft's total commitment in the state to over $7 billion. Together, the two centers will house thousands of Nvidia GPUs connected by enough fiber optic cabling to circle the globe four times, delivering performance 10 times faster than today's most powerful supercomputers.

Microsoft emphasized sustainability features, with more than 90% of cooling handled through a closed-loop liquid system that minimizes water use. Annual consumption is projected to equal that of a single restaurant or a week of golf course irrigation. The company has also contracted renewable energy, including a new 250-megawatt solar farm, and will pre-pay for electrical infrastructure to stabilize costs.

The project is creating more than 3,000 construction jobs and will employ up to 800 staff once both sites are operational. Microsoft is also funding a new Datacenter Academy with Gateway Technical College to train over 1,000 students within five years, while expanding AI skills training to more than 100,000 Wisconsin residents.

Executives said the project integrates global supply chains with local communities. Alongside hardware and energy infrastructure, Microsoft is partnering with Wisconsin-based suppliers and universities to embed AI into regional manufacturing and expand broadband access to thousands of rural homes.