New Jersey Residents Sue AI Data Center Over Constant Noise
Two neighbors of a massive artificial intelligence data center in Vineland, New Jersey filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday against DataOne USA, claiming the facility's cooling systems and diesel generators produce an unbearable industrial hum that disrupts sleep and diminishes property values.
Scott Montgomery and Michael Gentile live within a half-mile of the data center under construction off South Lincoln Avenue. Both say the noise - which they describe as sounding like a hovering helicopter or airport - runs day and night across nearby neighborhoods and farmland.
The lawsuit targets roughly 1,013 residential households within a mile of the site. According to the complaint, the facility's inadequate sound barriers allow noise from cooling equipment and generators to spread into surrounding communities.
What the County Found
The Cumberland County Department of Health inspected the site in March and issued a Notice of Violation after measuring noise exceeding 50 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. DataOne said at the time that the noise was temporary and tied to ongoing construction.
Montgomery drew national attention in March when he posted a video from his back porch showing the audible hum across farm fields. The facility rose behind 14-foot concrete walls with minimal public notice, and residents say noise intensified earlier this year.
Scale and Infrastructure Demands
The 2.6 million-square-foot campus is expected to become one of the largest AI data centers on the East Coast once completed. It will require roughly 300 megawatts of electricity and consume about 20 million gallons of water annually.
Nebius Group, a Netherlands-based company, operates the facility. The company recently announced a $17 billion deal to supply AI computing power to Microsoft from the site.
The Vineland Planning Board approved the first phase in June 2024 with little public discussion. A second phase, which includes plans for additional data center space, a power generation facility, a water treatment plant and a liquefied natural gas system, has been postponed twice due to community opposition.
A Broader Pattern
Noise complaints from data centers are mounting across the country. Northern Virginia, home to nearly 300 data centers - the largest concentration in the United States - has seen years of resident complaints about constant "whirring" sounds from cooling systems. Homeowners there compare the noise to standing next to an airport or highway.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced a four-part plan this week to place guardrails on the data center industry. The proposal includes statewide standards requiring developers to address noise, light and pollution concerns while investing in host communities.
For real estate and construction professionals, the Vineland case illustrates how data center projects can affect property values and community relations. Learn more about AI for Real Estate & Construction to understand these infrastructure challenges.
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