Vineland Residents Sue DataOne Over Noise From New 350 MW Datacenter

Neighbors of the under-construction DataOne facility in Vineland, New Jersey have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that low-frequency sound from the 350 MW, 2.4 million-sq-ft datacenter creates a nuisance extending up to one mile from the site. 63-year-old resident Steve Brown and two other locals are the named plaintiffs, represented by the Michigan firm Liddle Sheets PC. The complaint asserts that the persistent hum disrupts sleep and daily life, and that local authorities lack tools to measure vibration effects.

The Guardian

Datacenters have proliferated across the United States, drawing criticism for electricity demand, water use and emissions. Noise has received less attention, despite research dating to 1968 that linked sustained sound to cardiovascular, glandular and respiratory stress. The EPA was tasked in 1972 with sound regulation, but the Reagan administration defunded regional noise offices in 1982, leaving only the Rutgers University Noise Technical Assistance Center in New Jersey operational. In July, the advocacy group Quiet Communities Inc. won a lawsuit compelling the EPA to address its regulatory gap.

The Guardian

The firm reports installing a northerly sound-mitigating wall, adjusting construction schedules, powering the site with “quiet fuel cells,” and hiring a sound-mitigation specialist to assess the project. Nebius, the Amsterdam-based contractor for the facility, echoed DataOne’s commitment.

The Guardian

Quiet Communities president Jamie Banks highlighted that noise is the “forgotten stepchild” of datacenter impacts, noting that low-frequency vibrations travel long distances and enter homes. Attorney Laura Sheets emphasized that the Vineland case is one of several emerging litigations targeting datacenter noise. Residents such as Michael Gentile have repeatedly contacted the county health department—about twenty calls—complaining that officials lack means to evaluate vibration.

The Guardian

• “It woke me up probably around, I don’t know, somewhere around 2 o’clock in the morning,” — Steve Brown, a 63-year-old Vineland, New Jersey resident, literally hears in his sleep: BGRRRRRRRRRRR

The Guardian

• “We have four cases that are being litigated in court against datacenters for noise, and we’re gearing up to file quite a few more,” — Laura Sheets, attorney for the class

The Guardian

• “What I say is that there’s really four problems here: three are given a great deal of attention – energy consumption, water use and contamination,” — Jamie Banks, president of Quiet Communities Inc, a non-profit advocacy group

The Guardian

• “Aside from hearing, it has been demonstrated that noise can cause physiological changes,” — Stewart

The Guardian

• “It’s 50 years since then – there’s been a lot more research on the impacts of low frequency,” — New Jersey. Eric Zwerling

The Guardian