Community rallies against giant data center being built in Kenilworth, New Jersey

Residents of Kenilworth, New Jersey, a small borough, are actively opposing the construction of a large CoreWeave data center. The $1.8 billion, 400,000-square-foot facility is being built on the former Merck Pharmaceuticals site on Galloping Hill Road, a development many residents claim they were unaware of until recently. Local high school students played a key role in informing neighbors, knocking on doors to raise awareness about the project. Residents, including Carl Steinmetz, expressed concerns about potential pollution and the impact on local water and electric bills, despite CoreWeave's assurances that the facility is designed to be a responsible neighbor. The community held a rally with cowbells and whistles in front of the municipal building before a recent council meeting to demonstrate their strong opposition. CoreWeave issued a statement viewing data centers as investments that support economic activity and reiterated its commitment to ongoing community engagement.