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Neighbors complain of noise and light from nearby data centers; city says it will pursue noise study and mitigation
Summary
Residents from Plain Township and areas near Abbott Road told New Albany City Council they can hear and see equipment from newly activated data centers and asked the city to force fixes. Staff said they have deployed a consultant for a noise study and are working with the companies on screening, sound-attenuation walls or exhaust modifications.
Residents from neighborhoods near recently activated data centers told New Albany City Council on Sept. 2 that cooling fans and exhaust systems are producing continuous, audible noise and intrusive light.
Thomas Legart, a contractor who lives in Plain Township, said the sites have “28 fans along Battle Road…about the size of the two-car garage each fan,” and that the equipment “definitely disrupted our entire neighborhood.” He asked the city to work with property owners and the operators to reduce noise and light impacts on homes.
City staff acknowledged the complaints and described immediate steps. A municipal engineer said the city and developer (identified in comments as Google personnel) have deployed a consultant to conduct a noise study measured at the relevant property lines and to return data that will inform mitigation. Staff described possible solutions they are exploring with the company, including additional screening, a sound-attenuation wall around fan structures and modified exhaust stacks that redirect noise back toward the campus.
Multiple residents reinforced the concerns, saying noise and overnight steam releases have been audible in neighborhoods and asking the city to consider temporary pauses or stronger requirements while technical solutions are developed. City staff said an engineer had visited the site multiple times in the prior week, that screening at the site is in place but may be improved, and that staff would follow up with the residents and with the companies to pursue both short- and longer-term fixes.
The council did not vote on any ordinance or emergency measure that night; staff committed to continued outreach, to sharing noise-study results with affected residents, and to working with the developer on mitigation measures. The meeting record indicates staff and the residents agreed to coordinated follow-up conversations to track remedial steps.
The issue was raised at two points in the meeting: during the hearing of visitors (where multiple residents described the same noise and light impacts) and again during the US-62 focus-area public hearing where a resident played audio demonstrating the background noise.
Council members and staff said they would continue to press the site operator for solutions, could request additional technical studies, and would monitor whether code or permitting remedies are needed as the review continues.
