Equinix Plans New Secaucus Data Center Despite Fuel Spill and Local Opposition
Equinix is moving forward with its NY10 data center project in Secaucus, New Jersey, despite a recent 5,000-gallon diesel fuel spill at an adjacent Equinix facility. The spill has prompted Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli to request a pause on new data center applications in the town, impacting the approval process for the NY10 facility. Activists are also calling for a statewide moratorium on data center development.
Equinix is proceeding with its NY10 data center project in Secaucus, New Jersey, despite a recent 5,000-gallon diesel fuel spill at its nearby NY2 facility. The planned four-story facility, which will include a new electrical substation, is set to be the company's fifth colocation data center in Secaucus and is expected to be online by 2030, with construction beginning next year.
The project has been under development for years, with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) granting Equinix a key permit for construction in a flood hazard area in December 2019. However, Equinix may still require additional permits, such as air pollution permits for backup generators, which it has not yet sought from the NJDEP.
The recent fuel spill has significantly heightened local scrutiny and opposition. Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli, who previously supported data centers for their property tax revenue, has expressed strong concerns and sought penalties against Equinix. He has sent a letter to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), requesting a pause on new data center applications in Secaucus. While many other New Jersey towns have enacted data center bans, Secaucus has not, and local approval for the Equinix NY10 facility is currently pending. The NJSEA has invited Mayor Gonnelli to meet to discuss his concerns.