DataNode Operates Unpermitted Generators in New Jersey
State inspectors identified 64 generators running without air permits, fueling noise concerns among local residents.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Data Centers
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New Jersey regulators confirmed in July 2026 that DataNode operated 64 power generators at its facility without required air permits. The generator fleet, which reached full capacity in June 2025, has logged over 65,000 total operating hours.
Why it matters
The case highlights the infrastructure challenges of scaling energy-intensive data centers, which have increasingly relied on temporary diesel or natural gas power before permanent grid connections or fuel cells are available.
DataNode installed 64 tractor-trailer-sized generators that operated for a combined 65,000 hours without state authorization. The facility reached this full-scale generator capacity by June 2025.
The players
DataNode
A data center operator currently navigating regulatory scrutiny regarding the power infrastructure of its New Jersey facility.
Cumberland County Department of Health
The local authority that has received over 100 noise complaints from the surrounding community since March 2026.
The details
DataNode deployed an array of 64 independent power units to support site energy demands, a configuration that effectively functions as an industrial-scale microgrid. These units require specific air quality permits from New Jersey authorities to regulate emissions during combustion. While DataNode characterizes this installation as a temporary stopgap pending a move to fuel cells—electrochemical devices that convert fuel into electricity without combustion—the current system relies on conventional generator technology.
Timeline
July 2024: DataNode generators began arriving on site.
October 2024: 16 generators began operations.
February 2025: 16 additional generators began operations.
June 2025: All 64 generators became fully operational.
July 2026: State regulators identified the unpermitted fleet during an inspection.
The Tech Race
This development illustrates the friction between rapid data center deployment and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection air permitting standards. It marks a significant hurdle for firms attempting to circumvent standard grid connection timelines through modular onsite power.
Cumberland County residents have filed over 100 noise complaints since March 2026 regarding the facility's power operations. The company plans to seek necessary operating permits, though a timeline for this resolution remains unannounced.
The takeaway
The event highlights the growing regulatory conflict between site-level energy demands and regional air quality standards. Residents should track the upcoming permit application filings by DataNode to see if operations move into compliance or face further enforcement action.
Further reading
For broader trends in infrastructure regulation, see Data Centers.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Elko Daily Free Press.
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