New Jersey fines data center $1.1M over 62 undisclosed backup gas generators

New Jersey regulators have fined a data center $1.1 million after drone photographs revealed 62 gas-powered generators operating on the premises without proper disclosure. The generators had not been reported to environmental authorities, prompting the penalty for violations of air quality regulations. The fine was triggered by aerial surveillance evidence that exposed the scale of the facility's unreported emissions infrastructure. Residents living near the data center have expressed concern that even million-dollar penalties may not be sufficient to deter large, wealthy operators from continuing to pollute. The case highlights growing tensions between the rapid expansion of data center infrastructure and local environmental oversight.