New Jersey Environmental Groups Push for AI Data Center Pause
More than 60 environmental organizations sent a letter to Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Thursday urging New Jersey to pause AI data center development until the state answers questions about their environmental impact.
The groups cite two primary concerns: electricity consumption and water usage. Data centers draw massive amounts of power from the grid and require substantial water volumes to cool servers.
"Can New Jersey have a plan to deal with this new emerging economy, and can we take it at a reasonable pace instead of forcing projects that consume hundreds of thousands of homes' worth of electricity?" asked Ben Dziobek, executive director of Climate Action Revolution.
Local Opposition Grows
The push for a statewide pause follows successful local resistance. New Brunswick rejected a proposed AI data center in February after community opposition, leaving the site as an inactive construction zone that may become a public park.
Opposition has surfaced across the state. A planning board meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Kenilworth, Union County, will address a proposed data center amid local frustration. An opposition rally is planned before the meeting.
Community concerns span from Sussex County to Cumberland County, according to reporting on the issue.
Public Opinion Aligns With Environmental Groups
A Stockton University poll this month found more than half of New Jersey residents oppose data center construction. Dziobek noted the opposition crosses political lines.
The state's Democratic leadership has taken different approaches. Former Governor Phil Murphy began issuing tax credits to AI companies and data centers in 2024. Sherrill is emphasizing balance between development and quality of life.
"We're concerned about quality of life for residents," Sherrill said. "We're concerned about the environmental impacts, which is why, as we move forward on our data center plan, we are going to really make sure that data centers bring their own power so they're not continuing to increase power costs for New Jerseyans."
Legislative Action Remains Limited
Bills to regulate data centers have advanced in the New Jersey legislature. No state has issued a full data center moratorium to date.
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