DataOne fined $1.07M for operating 62 unpermitted generators at New Jersey data center

New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection slapped DataOne with a $1.07 million fine for running 62 natural gas generators without permits at its massive Vineland data center site. The penalty, assessed on September 22, marks the largest enforcement action against a data center in the state’s history. The generators in question: 62 Caterpillar G3516H engines, each rated at 1,982 kW, producing roughly 123 MW of combined capacity. Under New Jersey regulation, any generator rated at 37 kW or above requires preconstruction permits and operating certificates. These were 53 times that threshold, running without paperwork. How 123 MW of generators flew under the radar The DEP first visited the Vineland site in December 2025. A follow-up inspection on July 29, 2026 revealed the full scope of the unauthorized installations. The generators had been set up at the construction site without the required preconstruction permits or operating certificates mandated by state law. DataOne has pushed back on the characterization, arguing the generators should be classified as temporary units. That distinction matters because temporary equipment often falls under lighter regulatory requirement...