New Jersey fined DataOne $1.07 million, alleging it ran 62 natural-gas generators without required permits at its Vineland AI data center. The administrative order gives the company the choice to obtain permits or shut the generators down; the penalty is not a criminal finding.
Inspectors found the generators running during a July 29, 2026, visit; they were not present at an earlier inspection in December 2025. DEP-reported nameplate figures put their combined capacity at roughly 123 megawatts. State law requires a preconstruction permit and operating certificate for generators rated at 37 kilowatts or more.
DataOne spokesperson Naomi Race said the gas generators were temporary and the company was transitioning to lower-emission fuel cells. The reported $17 billion project is linked to a Microsoft commercial agreement. Approved plans list 300 megawatts of site capacity, while DataOne’s website projects up to 350 MW; available reporting has not resolved the discrepancy. The company may request an administrative hearing and has a limited window to challenge the action.
