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A class action lawsuit (Delgrosso et al. v. Markley Lowell, LLC) alleges that a 352,000-square-foot data center in Lowell, Massachusetts, is emitting excessive, unreasonable noise pollution into adjacent residential areas.
A newly filed class action lawsuit alleges that Markley Lowell, LLC has failed to manage or control excessive noise pollution pouring from its 352,000-square-foot facility. According to the complaint, everyday people living in the surrounding residential areas are dealing with an unrelenting acoustic invasion that severely interferes with their ability to sleep, relax, or simply use their own properties.
The 18-page environmental lawsuit, Delgrosso et al. v. Markley Lowell, LLC, was filed on May 27, 2026, in a Massachusetts state court. The case argues that the data center operator has systematically ignored community complaints and failed to implement standard industrial sound-mitigation measures. By prioritizing round-the-clock commercial operations over the health and well-being of the local community, Markley Lowell is accused of creating a public nuisance that has ultimately stripped nearby residents of their peace of mind and decreased local property values.
Data centers are the invisible backbones of our modern internet-driven lives, housing thousands of powerful computer servers that store and process digital information. However, these servers generate massive amounts of intense heat during operation. If the interior temperature gets too high, internal electronic components and computer chips can easily melt or fail. To keep the facility running smoothly, operators must utilize heavy-duty, industrial-strength cooling infrastructure.
The lawsuit highlights that the Markley Lowell facility relies on 16 enormous cooling towers alongside complex heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to regulate internal server temperatures. Additionally, the data center relies on an expanding fleet of emergency diesel backup generators. The lawsuit notes that when the site first opened in 2016, it operated with just seven of these diesel generators, but expansion permits have since allowed that number to swell to 27. The legal complaint alleges that the combination of these massive cooling systems and backup generators creates a “consistent and pervasive” industrial noise that continuously floods into the surrounding neighborhood.
For everyday people living in the shadow of the data center, the constant roar has allegedly changed daily life for the worse. The lawsuit claims that without proper soundproofing or noise mitigation, the data center’s cooling equipment and machinery can easily emit noise levels reaching between 48 and 60 A-weighted decibels (dBA) in areas where Markley Lowell initially predicted offsite noise levels would only range between 34.9 and 50.9 dBA.
Because the data center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the resulting noise pollution is nonstop. The complaint asserts that nearby residents find themselves unable to open their windows for fresh air, enjoy their backyards, or sit outside on their decks without being subjected to the overwhelming mechanical drone. Most critically, neighbors report facing constant sleepless nights due to the noise, which deprives them of the basic comfort and sanctuary a home is supposed to provide.
The core of the class action lawsuit hinges on the allegation that Markley Lowell knew about the severe acoustic disruption but chose not to implement standard, readily available industrial solutions. The legal complaint points out that the loud and annoying nature of the facility has been the subject of frequent and vocal community complaints. Despite this clear feedback, the company has allegedly failed to install low-noise alternative cooling models or establish adequate acoustic barriers, sound shields, and perimeter walls designed to absorb and block the sound waves from escaping the property.
Furthermore, the legal filing reveals that this is not the first time Markley Lowell’s operational oversight has caught the attention of regulators. In July 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection assessed a $500 penalty against Markley Lowell for failing to submit a required Source Registration emission report. The lawsuit highlights this past regulatory penalty as part of a broader pattern of corporate negligence regarding environmental compliance and community impact reporting.
The ongoing friction between Markley Lowell and the local neighborhood has triggered significant local news coverage and prompted direct intervention from municipal leaders. In response to the rapid development and continuous structural modifications taking place at the Markley Lowell site, the City of Lowell recently enacted a strict 360-day moratorium on any new data center construction or expansion within the city limits.
This local government freeze underscores the growing public concern over how heavy digital infrastructure impacts historical and residential areas. As noted in local media reports cited by the lawsuit, everyday citizens simply had no idea how loud or invasive these data centers would be when they first arrived in Massachusetts. The combination of intense sound, construction disruption, and environmental emissions has led to intense community scrutiny and a widespread demand that the facility be reined in.
From a legal standpoint, property ownership gives you the right to the quiet enjoyment and undisturbed use of your home. When a neighboring corporation acts negligently and allows physical forces—such as toxic smoke, foul odors, or extreme noise pollution—to cross property boundaries and disrupt your daily life, it may be held liable under common law principles of private nuisance.
The lawsuit against Markley Lowell asserts that the company’s ongoing failure to control its noise emissions constitutes an unreasonable interference with private property rights. Because the relentless mechanical humming makes homes less desirable to live in, the legal complaint argues that the data center has actively lowered the market value of surrounding residential real estate. By filing a class action, the plaintiffs are seeking court-ordered financial damages for this lost property value, along with a legal mandate forcing Markley Lowell to permanently quiet its facility.
If your home has been affected by the ongoing noise coming from this facility, you may be eligible to participate as a class member in this legal action. The proposed lawsuit wants to bring justice to the community by compensating everyone who has had their peace disrupted by Markley Lowell’s operations.
You may be eligible if you meet the following conditions:
You are an owner-occupant or a tenant/renter of a residential property.
Your residence is located within a one-half mile radius of the Markley Lowell data center facility in Lowell, Massachusetts.
You resided at the property at any time within the applicable legal statute of limitations period.
Because this environmental lawsuit was just filed on May 27, 2026, there is no official claims deadline or settlement distribution process established yet. You do not need to sign up manually to be included in the initial class definition, but maintaining a record of any written noise complaints sent to the city or company can help support the collective case.
Large technology companies have a responsibility to be good neighbors and operate their commercial facilities without destroying the quality of life in residential communities. When everyday people face a multi-million-dollar corporation alone, it can be incredibly difficult to make an impact—but through a class action lawsuit, a neighborhood can unite to hold companies accountable.
If you live within a half-mile of the Lowell data center, you don’t stand alone in this fight. At Class Action U, we provide valuable educational resources for potential plaintiffs. Learn more about how to join a class action lawsuit or the class action lawsuit process.
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