Community rallies against construction of giant data center in small NJ town

KENILWORTH, New Jersey (WABC) -- Many residents are opposed to a new data center opening in a small community in New Jersey.

The $1.8 billion, 400,000-square-foot data center is being built in Kenilworth, a borough of just two square miles.

Residents came to a community meeting on Wednesday with cowbells and whistles to show their support against the data center, which many say was a surprise to them.

It seems a lot of residents had no idea what was being constructed at the old Merk Pharmaceuticals site on Galloping Hill Road near the Garden State Parkway.

"She didn't know much about it. Doesn't think it's a good idea, especially if it's going to be polluting the area," Kenilworth resident Carl Steinmetz said.

Utility line markers are posted across lawns in a neighborhood across the street and over on the easement to what's now called the 'Nest Center.'

The company Core Weave's data center is already under construction there.

The moves were made to get these plans approved, but they may have been done quietly.

But did not escape the attention of some local high schoolers.

A few neighbors on Washington Avenue said it was teenagers who were knocking on doors to tell them about the potential new data center and why they should be involved in the conversation.

"We should at least have a say in what goes on in the community," one resident said

Shawn Smith is part of Gen Z, who are using their voices to advocate for what they want their futures to look like.

He lives just across the street from the entrance where the data center is going up.

"We all know what affects our water bill, electric bill. Even though they say it's not.. they're building poles to tap into their supply, but we all know it's based on the area usage," Smith said.

Thoughts like that are what helped spark the rally Wednesday night in front of the municipal building before the council meeting.

Core Weave responded for a requested statement saying, "CoreWeave views data centers as investments in the communities that host them. Our facility is designed to be a responsible neighbor and to support long-term economic activity in the region. We remain committed to ongoing engagement which is central to how CoreWeave earns its place in the communities where we operate."

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