Westfield Residents Voice Data Center Concerns At Town Hall

WESTFIELD, NJ — Concerns about a proposed artificial intelligence data center in neighboring Kenilworth brought residents from across Union County to a recent town hall hosted by State Sen. John Bramnick, with many urging state leaders to take a closer look at the project before it moves forward.

Residents from Westfield, Springfield and other nearby communities said they are worried about the facility's potential impact on the electric grid, water usage, noise levels and surrounding neighborhoods.

For Karina, an area resident attending her first town hall, one of the biggest concerns is the proposed location.

"What do you think about the fact that there's going to be a data center in this residential community where there's houses literally feet away, families live there?" she asked Bramnick.

Karina said she believes any impacts from the project would not stop at Kenilworth's borders and could affect nearby communities including Westfield, Springfield, Union and Roselle Park.

Much of the discussion centered on the scale of the proposed facility.

Alex, a Westfield resident, told attendees the data center is projected to consume between 100 and 500 megawatts of electricity on a continuous basis. He argued that a project of that size could have consequences for communities throughout the region.

"These data centers are so crazy that they do affect the surrounding areas and not just the town they're in," Alex said.

Alex also questioned claims that the facility's cooling system would have little impact on local water supplies.

"Although people will say water won't be used in the closed system, it is a trickery to say that," he said while explaining concerns about how cooling systems operate during warmer weather.

Tim, a resident of neighboring Springfield, said he believes projects with potential regional impacts deserve broader public discussion and review.

"It's a small town hijacking the entire region and making such a big decision without the consent of the governed," Tim said.

Bramnick told attendees he believes additional research should be completed before the project proceeds.

The senator said he supports legislation sponsored by State Sen. Joe Cryan that would remove tax incentives tied to the proposed data center.

"I would support Joe Cryan on this bill for the following reasons," Bramnick said. "First, you have a potential water issue, you have a potential air issue, you have a potential noise issue, and the electric grid."

Residents also discussed proposed legislation that would require AI data centers to disclose anticipated water and utility usage through an environmental justice statement.

Bramnick said the project should not move forward until more information is available.

"Until we do all the research as to the impact of that data center, it should not be built," he said.

The senator also noted that the growing public attention surrounding the proposal has reached state leaders.

"When they see the Kenilworth community that upset and the governor jumps in, it's probably likely that something's going to happen," Bramnick said.