Microsoft just got the green light to build 15 more data centers in Mount Pleasant, spread across two new campuses totaling nearly 9 million square feet.
A projected taxable value north of $13 billion signals a long-term, high-capex AI and cloud footprint, likely GPU-dense given Microsoft’s broader AI roadmap.
The project is partly repurposing the failed Foxconn site, which underscores how stranded megaproject land is getting recycled into hyperscale data centers.
Local pushback centered on scale, transparency, and “massive” energy consumption, highlighting the growing political and grid scrutiny around large AI builds.
Supporters leaned on construction and ops jobs, with union trades expecting up to a decade of work, which matters for project speed and labor stability.
The next phase is detailed engineering and permits, where we’ll see real signals on power sourcing, cooling design, and actual build cadence.
Worth keeping an eye on this one as a case study in converting legacy megaprojects into AI-era infrastructure and the tradeoffs communities are weighing.
Source: Mount Pleasant approves Microsoft data center expansion
