Vineland officials halt unpermitted work at Nebius data center site
Vineland officials issued stop-work orders for unpermitted Bloom Energy fuel cell and LNG tank installations at Nebius' data center site. Despite these orders, Nebius executives failed to disclose the halted work during an earnings call, stating the project was "on track." The amended site plan faces significant resident opposition, and a Planning Board vote has been adjourned.
The City of Vineland has issued two stop-construction orders for a data center project being built for Nebius by DataOne Vineland, LLC. The orders, dated August 6 and August 10, cite the installation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank and Bloom Energy fuel cells without prior approvals or permits. The fuel cells are intended to power the approximately 300-megawatt site, which Microsoft has contracted to use.
Despite the stop orders, Nebius executives, including Chief Communications Officer Tom Blackwell and Chief Infrastructure and Product Officer Andrey Korolenko, told investors on a second-quarter earnings call that the Vineland project was "on track." They did not mention the halted work when asked about the project's amended site plan, which was the subject of a Planning Board meeting that adjourned without a vote due to "fierce resident opposition." Sustain SJ, a local advocacy group, published the stop orders on its Facebook page.
According to DataOne, the notices were limited to equipment placement and are not expected to impact the construction and delivery timeline. However, New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code states that construction cannot continue in violation of such orders, with penalties up to $2,000 per day and potential injunctions if DataOne Vineland, LLC does not comply. The Planning Board hearing on the amended site plan, which includes nine Bloom power areas, an 8,660-square-foot LNG tank, and an LNG filling station, is scheduled to continue, with a vote uncertain due to ongoing public comment.