Microsoft Data Centers Transform Small Town Life in West Des Moines

In West Des Moines, Iowa, Microsoft has built several large-scale data centers over the past decade. The project replaced small town farmlands and attracted new housing developments. Residents who live nearby share their experiences with life around a data center.

Phoebe Spieker, who lives across from Project Osmium, said 'There is no such thing as quiet anymore.' She wipes the morning dew off her car's sideview mirror as she and her husband leave for work. The light pollution and high traffic noises have affected their quiet life in their restored farmhouse.

Kim Jellema, who lives close to Project Osmium, has complained about traffic and gravel dust. 'We want to live someplace where we can live,' she said from her barn on her property. She plans to eventually move out of the house due to the impact on her family and horses.

Other residents have adapted to their situation. Gary Gehrke, who shares a fence with Project Osmium, said 'They stay on their side of the line, and we stay on ours.' He mowed his backyard in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, August 27, 2026.