One of east coast's largest datacenters accused of 'violating federal law'
2026-08-27
The Guardian
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The Microsoft-backed DataOne AI data center in Vineland, New Jersey, has been operating dozens of unpermitted gas-powered generators, emitting harmful air and noise pollution near residential areas and schools. The facility, supporting AI workloads, faces accusations of violating federal and state environmental regulations, causing health and community harm.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The datacenter is explicitly described as an AI datacenter providing AI computing power, indicating the presence of an AI system. The unpermitted generators powering the AI operations emit harmful pollution causing direct health harms to nearby communities, fulfilling the criteria for harm to health (a). The violation of federal law and environmental regulations further supports the classification as an AI Incident. The AI system's development/use is linked indirectly to the harm through reliance on the unpermitted generators. Hence, this is an AI Incident rather than a hazard or complementary information.[AI generated]