New Jersey fines DataOne $1.1M for air pollution from generators
New Jersey has fined DataOne $1.1 million for operating gas generators in violation of air pollution laws. The generators were found to be running at capacities far exceeding state limits without permits.
New Jersey has ordered DataOne, the operator of one of the East Coast's largest planned data centers, to pay a $1.1 million fine for secretly installing and operating gas generators. The action violates the state's Air Pollution Control Act.
The fine followed an investigation by The Guardian and Floodlight News in August. Thermal drone footage revealed that 45 of the 62 gas generators were operating. None of the generators had permits required for those with 37-kilowatt capacity or higher, despite running at 1,982-kw capacities, more than 50 times the state limit.
State officials from New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) noted that such generators emit pollutants including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. These emissions can worsen asthma, trigger heart attacks, and cause premature deaths.
The penalty highlights the state's enforcement of environmental regulations on industrial facilities, particularly concerning emissions from large-scale power generation equipment.