What’s it like living in the shadow of an AI data center? These Vineland residents know.
Residents living near DataOne’s 2.4-million-square-foot AI data center in Vineland, New Jersey, say persistent noise has disrupted their sleep and reduced their quality of life. DataOne and affiliated entities have purchased at least five nearby homes, while the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection fined the facility $1 million for operating 62 gas generators without required permits.
Residents Amber Ayrer and Theresa Lewis say the DataOne AI data center across from their homes in Vineland has produced a persistent industrial hum, causing sleepless nights, headaches and concerns about property values. At least five nearby homes have been purchased since 2025 by DataOne Vineland and LJR Real Estate, which is associated with local company Northeast Precast. A lawsuit by other residents alleging excessive noise was dismissed on procedural grounds.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ordered the facility to pay a $1 million fine after finding that it operated 62 gas generators without required permits. DataOne says it is transitioning to quieter, lower-emission fuel cells, while Nebius Group, which operates the center’s internal AI infrastructure, says equipment from Bloom Energy and additional sound mitigation should reduce noise once the facility is fully operational. Residents say they had limited opportunity to object because the project was approved by the Vineland City Council more than a year before a contentious public meeting.