Scott Montgomery and Michael Gentile filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday in federal court against DataOne USA, the company behind the project. Both men live within a mile of the AI data center under construction off South Lincoln Avenue in Vineland.
The lawsuit alleges the facility has emitted an “annoying” industrial humming noise that can be heard day and night across nearby neighborhoods and farmland.
“It’s a very loud industrial noise,” Gentile said in the complaint. “Sounds like a helicopter hovering, loud fans like you’re at an airport.”
The neighbors claim the noise has interfered with their sleep, caused anxiety and diminished property values in the rural part of the city.
DataOne did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit on Thursday.
Montgomery drew national attention when he posted a video in March from the back porch of his Vineland home. In the clip, a low humming sound could be heard across surrounding farm fields. His property sits about a half-mile from the AI data center site.
The lawsuit argues the noise impacts more than just Montgomery and Gentile. According to the complaint, about 1,013 residential households are located within a mile of the data center.
Data centers have existed for decades to support cloud computing and digital storage. But newer AI-focused facilities require far larger amounts of computing power and cooling infrastructure. Critics say the facilities can strain local power grids, consume large amounts of water and create persistent noise from cooling systems and backup generators operating around the clock.
The Vineland lawsuit claims the data center’s diesel generators and cooling equipment created around-the-clock noise that spread into nearby neighborhoods because of inadequate sound barriers.
Many locals say the facility rose behind 14-foot concrete perimeter walls with little public attention. They also say the noise from the project intensified earlier this year.
After receiving repeated complaints, the Cumberland County Department of Health inspected the site March 10 and issued a Notice of Violation for noise exceeding 50 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., according to the lawsuit.
At the time, developers said the noise was temporary and tied to ongoing construction.
The facility is being built by DataOne and is operated by Nebius Group, a Netherlands-based technology company. Nebius recently announced a $17 billion deal to supply AI computing power to Microsoft from the site.
In June 2024, the Vineland Planning Board approved the first phase of the project with little public comment. A second phase, which includes plans for additional data center space, a power generation facility, a water treatment plant and a liquefied natural gas system, has since been postponed twice amid community protests.
Once completed, the 2.6 million-square-foot campus is expected to become one of the largest AI data centers on the East Coast. It is projected to use roughly 300 megawatts of electricity and consume about 20 million gallons of water annually once fully operational.
At least three data rooms are already online, company officials previously told NJ.com.
Noise has become a growing source of tension in communities across the country where data centers are expanding.
In Northern Virginia — home to the largest concentration of data centers in the United States, with nearly 300 facilities — residents have complained for years about noise from the sites. Some reports describe a constant “whirring” sound from cooling systems operating day and night, with nearby homeowners comparing it to standing next to an airport or highway.
In New Jersey, backlash over the rapid expansion of AI data centers prompted Gov. Mikie Sherrill to announce a four-part plan aimed at putting “guardrails” on the industry earlier this week.
Part of the proposal calls for statewide standards requiring developers to address concerns related to noise, light and pollution while also investing in host communities.
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