Vineland, New Jersey Residents Oppose Data Center Over Environmental and Noise Concerns
Residents of Vineland, New Jersey, are actively opposing the construction and operation of a large data center by DataOne and Nebius due to significant noise, air quality concerns from gas-fired generators, and high electricity demand. Despite community protests and concerns about transparency, the project received multiple approvals from the city council and planning board. Local activists are investigating the environmental impact and challenging the municipal process.
Residents in Vineland, New Jersey, particularly Andrew and Stevi Groetsch, have voiced strong opposition to a massive data center project, which they claim generates significant noise and raises concerns about air quality. The facility, owned by DataOne and operated for Netherlands-based Nebius, is New Jersey's largest data center and is set to provide computing capacity for Microsoft, primarily for AI model development. The project is projected to require 300 megawatts of power, nearly double Vineland's total electrical generation capacity, and relies on gas-fired generators as its primary power source.
The community's discontent has led to organized opposition, notably by Sustain South Jersey, which has actively engaged in city council and planning board meetings. Residents like Nicole Petronglo have criticized the tax breaks granted to DataOne Vineland as "corporate welfare." The data center's construction, hidden behind 14-foot concrete walls, is a joint venture between DataOne USA and NEP Real Estate, a firm connected to local concrete magnate John Ruga, who also co-owns the nearby luxury Trout National golf club.
The development process has been fraught with controversy, including multiple zoning approvals granted by the Vineland City Council and Planning Board to Ruga's firms, which residents claim lacked adequate public notification. Sustain SJ's investigations into corporate regulatory filings revealed a plan to power the site with 32 Bergen gas-fired engines, with developers proposing an untested microalgae-based emissions control system from Syklea. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) noted potential "non-negligible long-term non-cancer risk" from acrolein and accounting irregularities, further fueling local environmental concerns.
Despite active opposition and a growing movement for local civic engagement, the data center project has been approved and is under construction. Residents express frustration that local officials appeared uninformed about the project's details and have prioritized corporate interests over community well-being, highlighting a broader national backlash against data centers over resource consumption and perceived economic inequality.