'We're going to have major issues.' Kenilworth residents push back against AI data center under construction

Residents in Kenilworth, New Jersey, are voicing strong opposition to a $1.8 billion artificial intelligence data center being constructed by CoreWeave at the Northeast Science and Technology Center (NEST) campus. The project, which involves converting an old Merck & Co. building, had previously received approval from the Kenilworth Borough Council but has recently garnered significant local attention. Concerns among residents, including Union County residents Brent Krueger and Rosa Joseph, focus on potential negative impacts on water quality, increased flood risk, and rising electricity costs. Joseph emphasized, "We're going to have major issues with the water in the future, with so many data centers being built. It's just not possible. We cannot sustain it. They're destroying the earth." Neighbors have organized a petition to halt construction, collecting over 1,500 signatures. Kenilworth Mayor Linda Karlovitch, however, defended the project, stating that CoreWeave will fund all required transmission upgrades and pay sales tax on power, preventing cost increases for residential ratepayers. She also noted the facility will use a closed-loop cooling system to minimize local water use. Karlovitch highlighted the significant economic benefits, including over 140 jobs, which she stated will fill a void left by Merck's departure. The project, required to create at least 100 jobs as part of a state tax credit received in 2025, is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The Kenilworth planning board has scheduled the data center for discussion at its April 28 meeting. Separately, New Jersey state officials introduced legislation this session to regulate how such facilities source their power, though it had not passed as of April 19.