Microsoft-backed New Jersey data center accused of operating unpermitted generators

Thermal drone footage shows DataOne's Vineland facility, one of the East Coast's largest AI data centers, is running dozens of generators without federal permits.

First covered Aug 27, 2026 · 8:00 AM PT · 2 articles · no longer in the live window

Microsoft-backed New Jersey data center accused of operating unpermitted generators — Image via theguardian.com

Coverage

29d Latitude Media One of the East Coast’s largest data centers has been accused of ‘violating federal law’ — Thermal drone footage shows DataOne — the Microsoft-backed AI data center in Vineland — is powering its operations with dozens of unpermitted generators The…

30d Guardian Environment One of east coast’s largest datacenters accused of ‘violating federal law’ — Thermal drone footage shows a Microsoft-backed AI datacenter powering its operations with dozens of unpermitted generators The largest planned AI datacenter in…

Primary sources

nj.com You Sold Us Out Nj Town Approves Next Phase Of Massive Ai Data Center As Residents Erupt (nj.com) — cited by 2 of the outlets above

floodlightnews.org About Floodlight — cited by 2 of the outlets above

cleanview.co Bypassing the Grid: How Data Center Developers Are Building Their Own Power Plants — Cleanview — cited by 2 of the outlets above

More coverage from around the web

floodlightnews.org Inside the reporting: Using a thermal drone to investigate xAI’s power plant

capitalbnews.org Drone Footage Shows Musk's AI Power Plant Flouting Clean Air Regulations in Black Community - Capital B News

tennesseelookout.com 'A different set of rules': Thermal drone footage shows Musk's AI power plant flouts clean air rules • Tennessee Lookout

pbs.org Overview | We Saw What AI Data Centers Don't Want You to See | Season 3 | Episode 4 | PBS

tomshardware.com Data centers turn to commercial aircraft jet engines bolted onto trailers as AI power crunch bites — cast-off turbines generate up to 48 MW of electricity apiece | Tom's Hardware

Appeared in: 2026-08-27 (#10) · 2026-08-28 (#14)

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