{"id":51981,"date":"2026-08-27T21:00:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T21:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=51981"},"modified":"2026-08-27T21:00:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T21:00:14","slug":"one-of-east-coasts-largest-datacenters-accused-of-violating-federal-law-datacenters-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=51981","title":{"rendered":"One of east coast\u2019s largest datacenters accused of \u2018violating federal law\u2019 | Datacenters \u2013 US"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The largest planned AI datacenter in New Jersey is being accused of violating federal law after a visual investigation found the site running dozens of unpermitted gas-powered generators.<\/p>\n

Thermal drone footage captured by the non-profit newsroom Floodlight last week showed the partly completed DataOne facility in Vineland was operating at least 45 of the site\u2019s 62 generators at the time.<\/p>\n

The datacenter has stirred controversy since breaking ground in 2025 due to persistent noise complaints, unpermitted construction and a contentious zoning process. It\u2019s located about 40 miles (64km) outside Philadelphia and slated to provide AI computing power to Microsoft as part of a $17bn deal with Nebius, a Dutch AI infrastructure giant.<\/p>\n

The facility is one of many across the US that have faced opposition from local residents concerned about their impacts.<\/p>\n

Located roughly a mile from two schools, the site\u2019s tractor-trailer-size generators emit substantial amounts of health-harming air pollution linked to asthma, heart attacks and even premature death.<\/p>\n

None have permits.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Drone video shows heat signature of data center turbines<\/span><\/p>\n

Federal and state law requires DataOne \u201cto have a final permit before bringing those generators on site, and certainly before firing them up\u201d, Bruce Buckheit, a former EPA air enforcement chief, told Floodlight.<\/p>\n

Buckheit, who served under multiple Republican administrations, believes DataOne\u2019s activities \u201cviolate federal law\u201d and that the company should immediately stop operating the generators and pay a fine for \u201ctheir illegal emissions\u201d.<\/p>\n

A New Jersey department of environmental protection (NJDEP) spokesperson confirmed that the agency \u201chas issued no permits, nor are any permit applications under review for power generators at the DataOne facility in Vineland\u201d.<\/p>\n

The spokesperson said the agency noticed the generators during a site inspection on 29 July and had yet to make \u201ca full compliance determination\u201d. They declined to answer follow-up questions.<\/p>\n

Buckheit said: \u201cThat one might be seeing administrative enforcement action [soon].\u201d<\/p>\n

DataOne did not respond to questions regarding its unpermitted generators but said the company \u201cremains committed to meeting all applicable environmental and permitting requirements\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/span>The DataOne facility has stirred controversy due to persistent noise complaints, unpermitted construction and a contentious zoning process.<\/span> Photograph: Evan Simon\/Floodlight<\/p>\n

Nebius did not respond to requests for comment by publication. Microsoft declined to comment.<\/p>\n

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told Floodlight, after being presented with its findings, that New Jersey\u2019s regulators are responsible for air permitting over DataOne.<\/p>\n

The \u2018bring your own power\u2019 datacenter strategy<\/h2>\n

DataOne is the first datacenter in New Jersey seeking to build its own power plant.<\/p>\n

The controversial tactic was pioneered by Elon Musk\u2019s datacenters along the Tennessee and Mississippi border and has since gone mainstream: nationwide, nearly 60 datacenters are planning to build their own gas plants, according to research by energy analytics firm Cleanview.<\/p>\n

The \u201cbring your own power\u201d strategy has resulted in years-long backlogs for gas-powered turbines, with facilities increasingly turning to even less conventional energy sources, such as modified jet engines and portable generators.<\/p>\n

In Vineland, DataOne originally planned for more than 30 Bergen gas-burning engines, which are commonly used to propel cruise ships. The NJDEP, however, found multiple deficiencies in DataOne\u2019s air permit application for the engines, according to public records reviewed by Floodlight.<\/p>\n

DataOne withdrew the application in May and instead now plans to rely on an array of Bloom fuel cells capable of producing 300MW. Though powered by gas, fuel cells use a combustion-free electrochemical process to generate electricity and result in far less health-harming air pollution than Bergen engines.<\/p>\n

However, the fuel cells still produce large amounts of carbon dioxide, and a Bloom official testified that, if completed, they could emit more than 2bn pounds of the climate-warming gas every year.<\/p>\n

<\/span>A NJDEP spokesperson confirmed that the agency \u2018has issued no permits, nor are any permit applications under review for power generators at the DataOne facility in Vineland\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Evan Simon\/Floodlight<\/p>\n

Until the fuel cells are operational, however, the facility is relying on the unpermitted gas generators, the first of which appear to have been turned on in October, according to maintenance logs.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear how long the equipment has been operational, but thermal drone footage captured by a data intelligence company appears to show 25 of the unpermitted gas generators operating in late June.<\/p>\n

Local residents have complained of a pervasive humming noise coming from the datacenter for months, sparking a class-action lawsuit in New Jersey federal court over noise pollution that many suspect is linked to the generators. Andrew and Stevi Groetsch live less than a mile from the site and say the noise has woken them in the middle of the night and often disturbs bedtime stories with their kids.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just constant. It never goes away,\u201d Andrew Groetsch said. The couple has complained about the noise since November and hope the NJDEP, the county and the EPA will \u201cat least get that part of it shut down and put a closer eye\u201d on the rest of the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you don\u2019t follow one rule, what makes us have any reason to believe that you would then follow others?\u201d Stevi Groetsch asked. \u201cIt\u2019s so upsetting.\u201d<\/p>\n

If the NJDEP decides to issue an enforcement action over the unpermitted generators, it wouldn\u2019t be the first time New Jersey officials have cited DataOne for violations.<\/p>\n

In March, the Cumberland county department of public health cited DataOne for violating noise ordinances for night-time sound levels at the site, according to a lawsuit brought by local residents. Earlier this month, the city of Vineland issued two stop-work orders, including for moving the fuel cells on site without permission \u2013 the same fuel cells meant to eventually replace the unpermitted generators.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems that this industry, in particular, values speed to market more than almost anything else,\u201d Buckheit said. He suspects the company won\u2019t stop operating the generators until they are issued a stop-work order because they \u201cseem to believe that it\u2019s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission\u201d.<\/p>\n