Key facts
- The DataOne AI datacenter in Vineland, New Jersey, is accused of violating federal law by operating unpermitted gas-powered generators.
- Thermal drone footage revealed at least 45 generators running at the partly completed facility.
- Former EPA air enforcement chief Bruce Buckheit believes the company should stop operations and pay a fine for illegal emissions.
- The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has not issued any permits for the generators.
- Local residents have complained about noise pollution and filed a class-action lawsuit.
- The datacenter is intended to provide AI computing power to Microsoft.
The DataOne AI datacenter, one of the largest planned on the East Coast, is facing accusations of violating federal law due to the operation of dozens of unpermitted gas-powered generators. Thermal drone footage captured by the non-profit newsroom Floodlight revealed that at least 45 of the facility's 62 generators were running at the partly completed site in Vineland, New Jersey.
Former EPA air enforcement chief Bruce Buckheit told Floodlight that DataOne is required to have final permits before operating generators and that their current activities "violate federal law." He believes the company should cease operations and pay a fine for "illegal emissions."
A spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) confirmed that the agency has issued no permits for the generators and has no permit applications under review. The spokesperson noted that the agency observed the generators during a site inspection on July 29 but has yet to make a full compliance determination.
DataOne, which is slated to provide AI computing power to Microsoft as part of a $17 billion deal with Dutch AI infrastructure giant Nebius, did not respond to questions about the unpermitted generators but stated its commitment to meeting all environmental and permitting requirements. Microsoft and Nebius declined to comment.
The facility has been a source of controversy since construction began in 2025, with local residents raising concerns about noise pollution, unpermitted construction, and a contentious zoning process. The generators, described as tractor-trailer-size, are located about a mile from two schools, and residents have complained of a pervasive humming noise. A class-action lawsuit has been filed over noise pollution, with many suspecting the generators are the cause.
DataOne originally planned to use Bergen gas-burning engines, but the NJDEP found deficiencies in its air permit application. The company withdrew that application and now plans to use Bloom fuel cells, which use a combustion-free electrochemical process. However, until the fuel cells are operational, the facility is relying on the unpermitted generators. The NJDEP has previously cited DataOne for violating noise ordinances, and the city of Vineland issued two stop-work orders earlier this month.