New Jersey Datacenter Accused of Operating Without Permits
The DataOne AI datacenter in Vineland, New Jersey, is under scrutiny after thermal drone footage revealed the use of unpermitted gas-powered generators. The footage, captured by the nonprofit newsroom Floodlight in mid-August 2026, showed at least 45 out of 62 generators in operation at the partially completed facility.
Bruce Buckheit, a former chief of air enforcement at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stated that federal and state laws require final permits before installing or operating such generators. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) confirmed that no permits have been issued for the generators, and the agency has not yet made a compliance determination following a site inspection on July 29, 2026.
The facility, backed by a $17.4 billion agreement with Microsoft through the Nebius Group, is approved for a first-phase capacity of approximately 300 megawatts. This deal, filed with the SEC in September 2025, could expand to $19.4 billion if Microsoft opts for additional services.
Local authorities have intervened with two stop-construction orders in August 2026, targeting an LNG tank and Bloom Energy fuel cell units installed without permits. Residents near the site have filed a class-action lawsuit citing noise and health concerns, and the Cumberland County Department of Health issued a noise violation notice on March 10, 2026.