Rally Planned Against Data Center In Union County

KENILWORTH, NJ — Residents from across Union County are expected to gather in Kenilworth tomorrow ahead of a Planning Board meeting centered on a proposed artificial intelligence data center at the former Merck campus.

A community-organized rally is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, outside 567 Boulevard, just before the Planning Board meeting set for 7 p.m.

The gathering comes as local concern continues to grow following recent public meetings where residents raised questions about how the project was approved and what impacts it could have on the surrounding community.

The proposal involves redevelopment at the Northeast Science and Technology (NEST) campus. Borough officials have previously said the town approved the sale of land to tech company CoreWeave in 2025, and that the Planning Board has already signed off on the redevelopment.

Residents who have spoken at earlier meetings have raised concerns about the process and questioned potential infrastructure impacts, including energy and water usage associated with large-scale data center operations.

The Planning Board meeting is expected to draw attendees from Kenilworth and surrounding Union County communities as the discussion over the project continues.