In rural Vineland, New Jersey, a large AI data center sponsored by Microsoft is under construction — and nearby residents say the ongoing noise is becoming unbearable.
Locals report a strange, low-frequency hum radiating across farmland, disturbing sleep and daily life. Scott Montgomery, a resident, described how his son mistook the sound for a helicopter. “He kept asking, ‘What are those helicopter noises in the background?’ The sound has only gotten worse over time,” Montgomery said.
The facility is being developed by Data One, while the AI infrastructure will be managed by Nebius Group, a Netherlands-based company. Recently, Nebius announced a $17 billion agreement with Microsoft to provide computing power from Vineland.
The Nebius AI Center is under construction on a private industrial zone in Vineland, NJ.
Developers insist that what residents are hearing is just typical construction noise and that the site isn’t yet complete.
Despite this, the Cumberland County Department of Health is taking the complaints seriously. The agency confirmed it is investigating the source of the sound and measuring noise levels across the affected area. A statement from the department said:
“We understand that ongoing noise can be frustrating for residents, and we take these concerns seriously. While residents have suggested where the noise may be coming from, we are working to verify its exact source.”
These are racks for data servers inside the Nebius AI UK Data Center in Chertsey, England. REUTERS
New Jersey already hosts about 80 data centers, a number expected to triple by 2030, according to a McKinsey & Company study. Proponents note that these facilities generate jobs and increase local tax revenue, while critics raise concerns about environmental impact, including high energy use and water consumption exceeding five million gallons per day for cooling.
For Vineland residents, the biggest concern remains the hum. Montgomery remarked, “It’s not even fully built yet. If it sounds like this now, what’s it going to be like once everything is running?”
