New Jersey fines Vineland data center $1.07 million for running 62 unpermitted gas generators
The state's largest penalty against a data center gives the developer 45 days to obtain air permits or stop running the generators, a warning for projects using on-site bridge power.
Data center developers that run on-site gas generators while waiting for grid power or permanent equipment now have a concrete measure of what operating them without a New Jersey air permit can cost. On September 22, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) issued an Administrative Order and Notice of Civil Administrative Penalty Assessment assessing a $1.07 million civil administrative penalty against Data One (DataOne) for operating 62 large natural gas generators at its Vineland data center without the permits required under the Air Pollution Control Act, N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:2C-1 et seq., according to a statement by Governor Mikie Sherrill that describes it as the largest enforcement action against a data center in the state's history.
N.J. Admin. Code §§ 7:27-8.2(c)(21), 7:27-8.3(a)-(b); N.J. Stat. Ann. §§ 26:2C-14.1, 26:2C-19(b)