‘It’s all you can hear’: New Jersey lawsuit takes on datacenter’s noise pollution

Key Points:

• Residents near the new 350MW DataOne datacenter in Vineland, New Jersey, including Steve Brown, are experiencing significant noise pollution from the facility, leading to sleep disturbances and health concerns.
• A lawsuit has been filed by Brown and neighbors, alleging noise nuisance up to one mile from the datacenter; this case is part of a growing number of legal actions against datacenters for noise pollution across the US.
• Noise pollution from datacenters is gaining attention alongside concerns about energy use and emissions, with experts highlighting its adverse health effects, including stress-related physiological impacts.
• The EPA's historical role in noise regulation diminished after the 1980s, leaving few active noise control programs; advocacy groups like Quiet Communities have recently won legal victories pushing for renewed federal attention.
• DataOne and its partner Nebius claim they are taking steps to mitigate noise, including sound barriers, quiet fuel cells, and specialist assessments, and emphasize their commitment to community engagement and regulatory compliance.