NJ data center operator fined $1.07 million for installing 62 massive generators without pre-permits
DataOne, operator of a data center in Vineland, New Jersey, has been fined $1.07 million by the state's Department of Environmental Protection for illegally installing and operating 62 natural gas generators without required permits. This violation has intensified calls from environmental groups, including the Pinelands Alliance, for a statewide moratorium on data center construction. Separately, New Jersey recently enacted a law mandating all data centers report their water and electricity usage.
DataOne, an operator of a large data center in Vineland, Cumberland County, New Jersey, has been hit with a $1.07 million fine by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The DEP announced the civil penalty for violations of the New Jersey Air Pollution Control Act, alleging that DataOne installed and operated 62 natural-gas power generators without first obtaining the necessary preconstruction permits and operating certificates. DEP Commissioner Ed Potosnak emphasized that such facilities will not be allowed to operate with impunity in the state. The generators, each with a 1,982-kilowatt capacity, exceeded the 37-kw threshold requiring state approval.
In the wake of this violation, New Jersey advocacy groups, including the Pinelands Alliance and Climate Revolution Action Network, have renewed calls for a statewide moratorium on data center construction. Pinelands Alliance Executive Director Jaclyn Rhoads argued that the incident underscores the need for a pause to prevent future environmental contamination, noting that the current model allows companies to build first and pay fines later. Ben Dziobek of Climate Revolution Action Network criticized the state's approach, suggesting fines are merely a "slap on the wrist."
This incident comes as New Jersey recently enacted a law, signed by Governor Mikie Sherrill in August, requiring all data centers statewide to report their water and electricity usage to the Board of Public Utilities every six months. Additionally, numerous local communities across New Jersey have already adopted their own bans or pauses on data center development, with advocates estimating over 100 such ordinances now in place.