Community outraged over potential $1.8 million data center being built

A significant controversy is unfolding in Kenilworth, New Jersey, regarding the construction of a $1.8 billion, 400,000 square foot data center by the company CoreWeave. The facility is being built on the site of a former Merck Pharmaceutical complex on Galloping Hill Road. Local residents, many of whom live directly across from the construction site, claim they were unaware of the project until recently, discovering details through online community forums. Concerns among community members, including teenagers, center around potential noise and water pollution, as well as the impact on local electricity infrastructure and utility bills. Residents organized a rally outside the municipal building before a regular council meeting, using cowbells and whistles to voice their opposition. Sean Smith, a local resident and part of Generation Z, highlighted the community's desire for a say in local developments and expressed skepticism about the data center's claims regarding independent power grids. CoreWeave responded to a request for a statement, asserting that its data centers are investments in host communities, designed to be responsible neighbors, and committed to ongoing engagement and long-term economic activity. Despite the data center being set to open next year, a grassroots effort has emerged, determined to prevent its operation.