Vineland Planning Board weighs AI data center expansion at packed Landis Theatre meeting
The Vineland Planning Board held a special meeting to discuss a proposed expansion for the Nebius and DataOne AI data center. The meeting saw significant public opposition, with residents raising concerns about transparency, environmental impact including water and electricity usage, and quality of life. No final decision was made at this meeting, with further details unclear.
The Vineland Planning Board convened a special meeting at the Landis Theatre on August 5 to deliberate on the proposed expansion of the existing Nebius and DataOne AI data center located on South Lincoln Avenue. The meeting was moved from City Hall due to a large anticipated crowd, reflecting significant public concern.
The current data center is nearing completion, spanning 129,622 square feet. The proposed expansion includes an additional 587,980-square-foot, two-story building, along with new energy infrastructure. Residents, including Helen Petrites, presented 2,900 signatures opposing the project, citing fears that the data center is negatively impacting property values and quality of life, making their homes unsellable.
Attendees, such as lifelong Vineland resident Maryann Laielli, expressed deep concerns about transparency and the city's handling of the situation. Discussions also covered potential impacts on taxpayer rates, utility infrastructure, sound mitigation, and substantial water usage. DataOne's attorney, Michael Fralinger, addressed questions regarding the project's financial contributions to power infrastructure and asserted that the applicant had met all notice requirements, acknowledging that transparency could always improve.
Casandia Bellevue, attorney for Sustain SJ, specifically questioned the data center's water demands, to which the board responded with an average of eight million gallons annually, without further elaboration. As of the meeting's conclusion, no final decision or outcome was announced by the Vineland Planning Board, and specifics regarding the full impact of the expansion and additional community measures remain pending.