Data center spills 5K gallons of diesel into New Jersey Meadowlands
Approximately 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled from an Equinix data center in Secaucus, New Jersey, into Anderson Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River. Cleanup efforts are underway, and local officials and environmental advocates are pushing for the state to pursue natural resource damages against Equinix. The incident has intensified the debate over data center development in the state, with activists calling for a statewide moratorium.
A significant environmental incident occurred in Secaucus, New Jersey, where approximately 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked from a storage tank at an Equinix Data Center. The spill flowed into Anderson Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River, prompting immediate cleanup efforts by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and contractors hired by Equinix.
Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli expressed strong disapproval of the spill and supports environmental advocate Bill Sheehan, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, in urging the state to pursue a natural resource damages claim against Equinix. This claim would require Equinix to compensate for the environmental damage by funding restoration projects. While the DEP has not yet decided on fines or enforcement actions, Equinix stated it is conducting a full investigation and is committed to a swift resolution.
This incident has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate surrounding data center development in New Jersey. Activists, including the Climate Revolution Action Network, have been advocating for a statewide moratorium on new data centers, arguing that their environmental impacts and strain on the power grid extend beyond municipal boundaries. Although nearly 100 New Jersey towns have already enacted local bans, Mayor Gonnelli believes a statewide policy is more appropriate, while Governor Mikie Sherrill's office declined to comment on the matter.