Union County Residents Protest Proposed AI Data Center in Kenilworth
Dozens of people from across the county gathered outside borough hall before the meeting, chanting and holding signs to protest the planned construction of an AI data center down the road.
More Stories
A proposed Artificial intelligence data center in Union County is sparking backlash from residents, many of whom packed Kenilworth Borough Hall Wednesday night to demand the project be stopped.
Dozens of people from across the county gathered outside borough hall before the meeting, chanting and holding signs to protest the planned construction of an AI data center down the road.
“I know it might be too late to stop it,” said Garwood resident Diane Moxley. “But I’m hoping if we get the numbers out from Kenilworth and the surrounding communities, maybe we can get the municipal government to listen to us.”
Several residents said they were caught off guard by the plan.
“I wasn’t notified at all,” said Kenilworth resident William Daughtry. “There was nothing appropriate about this.”
Tensions then spilled into the borough council meeting, where dozens more residents filled the room to give public comment.
Kenilworth Mayor Linda Korlavitch attended the meeting virtually. She confirmed that the borough council approved the sale of land at the Northeast Science and Technology Center, known as the NEST campus, to tech company CoreWeave in 2025. She said the local planning board has also signed off on the redevelopment.
“A data center is going to be built next to my grandmother’s home,” one resident told the council. “She’s been living here for over 30 years and was not informed in any sort of way.”
Environmental concerns were a recurring theme at Wednesday's meeting as well. Residents questioned the potential impact on water usage, energy consumption and public health.
“AI data centers are known to consume massive amounts of energy and water,” one resident said. “What assurances can you give that our community won’t bear those consequences?”
Officials responded by saying the site is already equipped with the infrastructure to handle increased water and power demands. Still, borough leaders told the crowd that the window to stop the project has long passed.
The CoreWeave data center will take over the former Merck campus at the NEST site. Mayor Korlavitch told News 12 the construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
