New Jersey AI Data Center Faces Scrutiny Over Unpermitted Generators
A thermal drone survey has captured the Microsoft-backed DataOne facility in Vineland, New Jersey, running 45 gas-powered generators simultaneously. The investigation by Floodlight and The Guardian suggests these units are operating without required permits, potentially violating federal law while venting pollutants near two local schools.
Bruce Buckheit, a former air enforcement chief at the Environmental Protection Agency, argues the facility should face fines for illegal emissions. He characterizes the incident as symptomatic of an AI industry that prioritizes rapid market entry over regulatory compliance. Local residents have spent months reporting a persistent, intrusive hum and vibrations they attribute to the site, which is projected to span 2.5 million square feet upon completion.
Despite ongoing complaints from the community, the Vineland Planning Board recently approved the second phase of construction. A spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection confirmed the agency is investigating the use of the generators but has not yet issued a formal compliance determination. This tension mirrors a growing national pushback against the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, which critics warn is straining energy grids and degrading local air quality.
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