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Environment & Climate

Vineland residents file lawsuit against DataOne datacenter over industrial noise

New Jersey neighbors seek class-action status, alleging constant sound and vibrations from a 350-megawatt facility create a broad nuisance.

The short version

  • Three residents in Vineland, New Jersey, filed a lawsuit against DataOne, seeking class-action status over noise pollution from its 350MW datacenter.
  • Plaintiffs allege that low-frequency sound and vibrations from the site extend up to a mile away, causing sleep disruption and localized disruption.
  • DataOne and its partner Nebius reported taking noise mitigation steps, including installing a wall, hiring a sound specialist, and planning the use of quiet fuel cells.

Key facts

  • Steve Brown and Michael Gentile are among the named plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking class-action status against the DataOne datacenter in Vineland, New Jersey.[The Guardian]
  • The environmental pollution law firm Liddle Sheets Coulson is representing the plaintiffs.[The Guardian]
  • The DataOne facility covers 2.4 million square feet and is designed for a capacity of 350 megawatts.[The Guardian]
  • DataOne built a northern wall, modified construction hours, hired a sound mitigation specialist, and plans to utilize quiet fuel cells to reduce sound emissions.[The Guardian]
  • Amsterdam-based Nebius partnered with DataOne after spinning off from Russian search engine Yandex.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact source equipment causing the noise pollution and whether the lawsuit will receive class-action approval remain unresolved.[The Guardian]

Sources