Residents sue over constant hum from New Jersey data center
Residents near a large data center in Vineland, New Jersey, have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming the facility's constant noise disrupts sleep and daily life. The plaintiffs say the sound, which they describe as a low growl, can be heard up to a mile away. The lawsuit is one of several across the country as communities push back against data center development.
The facility in question is a 350MW data center spanning 2.4 million square feet, constructed on land that was a public golf course as recently as October 2024. Amsterdam-based Nebius, a Yandex spin-off, contracted with DataOne by March 2025, and the rapid development has since packed local permit meetings at the Landis Theater.
Attorney Laura Sheets notes her firm is litigating four similar noise cases against data centers nationwide, with more planned. Advocacy groups point out that while energy consumption, water use, and contamination receive attention, noise remains an overlooked public health concern, with documented physiological effects recognized since the late 1960s.
This lawsuit reflects a growing national friction between rapid data center expansion and residential communities. If successful, it could establish legal precedent for noise as a legitimate nuisance claim against these facilities, potentially slowing future development or forcing design changes. Residents in similar situations across the country may feel empowered to pursue legal action, while developers could face increased costs and regulatory scrutiny that may reshape where and how data centers are built.