Data centers in New Jersey

"Linden knows industry better than most places in New Jersey, and they see that data centers just aren't worth it. That should send a powerful message to the rest of the state"

"I'm asking you to take a look at what's proposed, sit with us and talk about it"

"I want to commend him (Gonnelli) for trying to seek limits, but the word that frightens me is 'future data centers,' Since 6.5-square-mile Secaucus is already inundated with data centers, I have to question how many future data centers are proposed for this town?"

"He wants any new data center that opens in town to be no taller than two stories, if it's located near a residential part of town."

Matt Moench, Bridgewater mayor, stated he has instructed township attorneys to reactivate a lawsuit and will spend four years preventing any shovel from being put in the ground at 1200 Route 22 for a warehouse or data center

David Kraatz announced his candidacy for Secaucus town Council Ward 2 as a data center opponent

Frank Pallone, U.S. Rep., D-6th Dist., ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said large AI data centers are going to be a problem in densely populated areas.

"What health problems might I face in the future? Because I've been exposed to all of that. My kids have been exposed to it"

"Our best estimate is that the generators emitted about 140 tons of NOx"

Congressman Pallone wrote to FERC on September 28, 2026, urging it to strengthen PJM's data center proposals

Frank Pallone called for nationwide moratorium on data center construction in June

Warren County Commissioner James R. Kern III presented on data center development and local planning at ANJEC's Environmental Congress on September 25, 2026

Josh Gottheimer introduced legislation to create national standards for AI agents operating in U.S.

Andy Kim said two AI centric bills are attached to annual defense policy bill in Senate

Data center in Vineland received more than $1 million fine

Ed Potosnak, NJDEP Commissioner, called this the largest action ever taken against a data center in New Jersey

Environmental advocates including Pinelands Alliance renewed calls for a statewide moratorium on data center construction

Matt Smith, New Jersey State Director at Food & Water Watch, called for Governor Sherrill to enforce a statewide moratorium on data centers

Gov. Mikie Sherrill called the fine the largest enforcement action against a data center in New Jersey's history.

Jinete instead called for a complete ban on data centers.

AI data centers cited as posing risks to overburdened communities through electricity and water consumption, air and noise pollution, and limited transparency

South Ward Environmental Alliance and Ironbound Community Corporation calling for one year moratorium on AI data center development in Newark

Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli says the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority authorizes data centers to be built in Secaucus

Gonnelli said 88% of Secaucus is in the Meadowlands and the NJSEA approves the data centers there

Daikin plans to triple its PFAS capacity in response to semiconductor demand

Chemours produces or uses more PFAS substances than any other company and between half and two thirds of its $5.8 billion revenue comes from PFAS production

Chemours developing products for data center cooling with new PFAS refrigerants launched in August

PFAS producers expanding capacity for AI data center cooling, semiconductor manufacturing and lithium ion battery materials

Mayor Michael Gonnelli said the leak stemmed from broken valves used in the tank's routine filtration process

Mayor Michael Gonnelli initially told local outlets the leak stemmed from a computer glitch

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said no drinking water intakes sit near the spill site and no observed harm to local wildlife

Equinix said two broken valves used in the tank's routine filtration process caused the release

Anibal Ramos Jr North Ward Councilman sponsored resolution requiring closed loop chillers and water efficient cooling technology for data centers

Ben Dziobek, Climate Revolution Action Network executive director, stated that data centers create problems that extend beyond municipal boundaries including pollution and strain on electrical grid

Michael Gonnelli, Secaucus mayor, said data centre has operated for 25 years without previous problems and expressed anger over incident

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Coast Guard monitoring found no observed impacts to the Hackensack River or wildlife from the diesel spill.

Michael Gonnelli, Secaucus Mayor, said the data center has been operational since 2001 with no prior problems.

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. obtained shares worth up to 30 thousand dollars in Linde and MasTec, two companies involved in data center development

Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli stated the spill was caused by a computer glitch

A computer glitch caused the spill, according to Hackersack Riverkeeper executive director Bill Sheehan.

Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper, estimated 5,500 gallons spilled

Anderson Creek is a tidal tributary in the New Jersey Meadowlands with approximately 52 acres of tidal marsh

New Jersey residents have largely been left to municipalities to decide on new data centre proposals

Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper, stated data centers have operated in Meadowlands for decades without issue but recent growth has left him more worried

Equinix said it was conducting full investigation to determine root cause and prevent recurrence

New Jersey DEP confirmed no water intakes in area contaminated and no wildlife impacts reported

No drinking water intakes are immediately affected by the diesel spill

Mount Arlington Mayor Mike Stanzilis addressed concerns about electric bills, water use, local taxes, and community benefits from data center investment

Andrew Groetsch noticed his daughter's windows vibrating in September 2025 from data center noise

Computer glitch caused the diesel fuel spill at Equinix data center

James Barrood says global spending on data centers may reach 7 trillion dollars by 2030 per McKinsey

Ben Dziobek of Climate Revolution Action Network called for statewide moratorium on data centers

Diesel fuel leaked from a storage tank at the Equinix data center in Secaucus

Barrood says Google and Meta are investing 165 million dollars nationwide toward skilled trades training programs

Barrood argues New Jersey data centers should use closed loop recycled water to limit freshwater overuse during droughts

Young people in Union County, New Jersey marched on August 13 to protest Rep. Tom Kean Jr. for accepting thousands of dollars from Big Tech AI firms.

Bruce Buckheit, former EPA chief of air enforcement, said the situation appears to break federal law

The report outlined how data centers and other large electricity customers could help finance and scale distributed capacity.

RMI published a report in November 2025 making the case that off site demand flexibility, energy efficiency, and distributed generation can help meet rapidly growing data center electricity demand.

Since the report's publication, new laws, commission decisions, and utility proposals have begun creating pathways for large customers to fund distributed capacity.

Anibal Ramos Jr. led the resolution sponsored for temporary moratorium on data center development

Officials may consider middle ground options such as restricting data centers to industrial zones, requiring larger setbacks from homes, adding noise limits, and mandating traffic and utility reviews.

Demonstrators held anti data center signs stretching from outside the meeting to Route 37, with passing drivers cheering them on.

Data center development is becoming less of a business issue and more of a democratic issue

Data center construction is becoming a central campaign issue in the 2026 midterm elections in New Jersey

Montville Township Planner Joseph Burgis warned officials against outright bans and proposed smart zoning policies for data centers

Jackson Mayor Jennifer Kuhn received several threatening voice mails on her personal business number and town hall line

Assemblyman Michael Venezia said requiring consistent reporting will give a clearer picture of data center impact and allow the state to better understand demands and plan accordingly

Governor Sherrill's data center plan includes four pillars: requiring data centers to bring own clean energy, creating separate ratepayer class for data centers, mandating transparency through energy and water reporting, and establishing labor standards with prevailing wage requirements

Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz said the bill is a commonsense measure to give policymakers tools to protect consumers and manage resources responsibly

Ben Dziobek, executive director of Climate Revolution Action Network New Jersey, said the bill is toothless legislation that does nothing to stop data centers from draining local water or driving up residents' utility bills

Governor Sherrill said 'Here in New Jersey we're not going to let these developers operate in the shadows'

Governor Mikie Sherrill said data centers must disclose energy use, stating 'Data center companies often treat their usage statistics like a trade secret'

Governor Sherrill said decisions about the future of communities should be made locally and that New Jersey will not choose between innovation and accountability

Mayor Joseph Hankins stated the repeal removes data centers from the redevelopment plan entirely and reflects the township's commitment to ensuring future development aligns with community character, resources and priorities

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith said AI data centers pose critical environmental risks and impose undue stresses on local resources including water and electricity that place financial burdens on ratepayers and residents

Developer Ruben Torsky said he is not opposed to reasonable regulation of data centers and that his proposed facility at the former Greymark property is not an AI data center or AI computing facility

Councilman Jake Ephros called for protecting working families from utility bill increases due to data centers

Mayor James Solomon said data centers employ almost nobody

Councilman Joel Brooks called for a statewide moratorium on data center construction

Nebius executives said the fuel cell power solution would have no significant impact on the project development timeline

Nick Amicucci, Evercore ISI analyst, reiterated bullish view on Bloom Energy, with $350 price target

The EKahn complaint states the Township Committee action was based on public hysteria and political attention rather than sound land use planning

Attorney Craig M. Gianetti argued that the township should prioritize evaluation over prohibition and noted the property has dual 69,000 volt transmission lines

In Vineland, criticism of a data center project drew public threats of defamation litigation from City Council President Paul Spinelli

"Given that P.L.2025, c.98 initiates a study about the energy impacts of data centers, amending that existing law to incorporate the specific aspects of energy and water usage in this bill is a natural fit."

"These changes are designed to streamline related efforts to evaluate the impacts of data centers on State and regional resources, and to create an initial assessment after which future reporting requirements may be considered based upon the information gathered."