Records reveal that the DataOne facility in Vineland, New Jersey, emitted significant amounts of health-harming air pollution for nearly a year before state regulators intervened. This information comes from public records obtained by Floodlight, which also reported that the facility was recently fined $1 million for operating unpermitted generators.
Background
The Vineland facility's 62 gas-fired generators were first brought to public attention in August following a joint investigation by Floodlight and The Guardian. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) fined DataOne for the unpermitted operation but did not disclose how long the generators had been running or the total amount of air pollution released into the community.
Emissions Analysis
Technical data about the generators was analyzed by Xiaomeng Jin, an assistant professor at Rutgers University, and a former EPA air division chief. Jin estimated that the generators emitted approximately 140 tons of NOx, placing DataOne among the top five NOx polluters in New Jersey for 2025 according to EPA data.
“"NOx are a dangerous group of smog-producing gases linked to asthma, heart attacks, and even premature death," Jin stated. "It’s the most important air pollutant in the US that affects most people."
Community Impact
Residents near the facility, such as Tiffany Leone-Vespa, expressed concerns about the noise and health implications of the generators. Leone-Vespa, who lives about a mile from the data center, described the noise as similar to an airplane.
