Vineland data center noise protests delay second phase hearing to May 28

The persistent hum near Lincoln Avenue and Hance Bridge Road has become the flashpoint in Vineland’s fight over the Nebius data center, after more than 100 people gathered at Giampietro Park and the Planning Board pushed the second-phase hearing to May 28.

Residents and environmental advocates say the noise has become a day-and-night quality-of-life problem for nearby neighborhoods in East Vineland, with complaints centering on sleep disruption and a steady “humming” sound around the site near Pennsylvania Avenue. Cumberland County health officials said they are aware of the complaints and are enforcing the New Jersey Noise Control Code, N.J.A.C. 7:29, in residential areas near Lincoln Avenue and Hance Bridge Road.

The postponed hearing had been set for March 26, 2026. It was delayed to May 28 at DataOne’s request, giving Vineland officials more time before they consider the next stage of a project that already has become one of the most closely watched land-use fights in Cumberland County. Vineland Planning Board meetings are held at City Council Chambers, 640 E. Wood Street, with a 6:00 p.m. pre-meeting conference and a 6:30 p.m. regular meeting.

The project’s scale is at the center of the controversy. Nebius announced on March 5, 2025, that it was adding up to 300 megawatts of capacity at a new New Jersey data center tied to a $17 billion deal with Microsoft. The Vineland campus is described as 2.6 million square feet, and NJ Spotlight News reported that its expected power demand is enough to supply at least 65,000 residences for a year.

DataOne, the developer building the facility for Nebius, has said the project will create more than 200 permanent full-time jobs and become one of Vineland’s largest taxpayers. The company says 85% of the facility’s energy will come from natural gas, and it is seeking approval to place an LNG tank on site in case pipeline access is interrupted.

Opposition has sharpened beyond noise. The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance and SustainSJ urged city leaders in January to withdraw approvals until an independent environmental review is completed, arguing that the project could deepen air-quality and public-health burdens. The Vineland Environmental Commission has also warned that data centers are “quite noisy” and operate 24 hours a day.

The Planning Board first approved the project in June 2024, according to local reporting, and critics say the process moved quickly with limited public input. With the next hearing now set for May 28, residents near the site will be pressing for stronger protections, better monitoring, and clearer answers before the second phase moves forward.