NJ residents protest AI data center's environmental impact

Residents of Kenilworth and Union, New Jersey, are expressing growing opposition to a proposed artificial intelligence data center slated for the former Merck site on Galloping Hill Road. The planned facility, nearly 400,000 square feet, has prompted over 4,000 residents to sign an online petition, citing concerns over its environmental impact, particularly its high demand for computing power, electricity, and water, which they fear could lead to increased costs for local residents. The Kenilworth Planning Board unanimously approved the data center in May 2025, a decision made without a recorded public meeting where residents could voice their opinions, leading to a feeling of being "blindsided." CoreWeave, the company behind the data center, issued a statement asserting that they view data centers as community investments and design their facilities to be responsible neighbors, supporting long-term economic activity. Kenilworth's mayor, who declined an on-camera interview, addressed some concerns on social media, stating that the data center would utilize a closed-loop cooling system, thus not drawing from the local water supply, and would not strain existing resources.