Advocates Call for Statewide Data Center Ban After Thousands of Gallons of Diesel Fuel Spill Into the Hackensack River

An Equinix data center in Secaucus spilled thousands of gallons of diesel fuel into a tributary of the Hackensack River, highlighting how pollution from data centers extends far beyond municipal borders

SECAUCUS, NJ — As cleanup crews work to remove at least five thousand gallons of diesel fuel that leaked from an Equinix data center in Secaucus into the Hackensack River over the weekend, climate advocates are reiterating their call for Governor Sherrill and the Legislature to place a statewide moratorium on new data centers. Close to 100 municipalities in New Jersey have already banned data centers this year in the absence of a state legislation.

The diesel spill into the Hackensack River, which runs through dozens of North Jersey communities, is the latest sign that New Jersey’s current town-by-town approach to data centers isn’t working, as the environmental and public health harms caused by data centers extend far beyond municipal borders. Last month, the DataOne data center in Vineland was found to be running at least 45 unpermitted gas generators, sending greenhouse gas emissions into neighboring South Jersey communities.

In response to the spill, Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of Climate Revolution Action Network (CRAN) — the Gen-Z climate organization leading the fight to ban data centers across the state — released the following statement calling for a statewide moratorium:

“This is what happens when the data center industry is allowed to operate without any rules, and new ones are popping up all over New Jersey. We need a statewide ban right now before they do any more damage to our communities.

“Leaving this to individual towns doesn’t make any sense. Data centers create problems that don’t stop at municipal boundaries, whether it’s pollution or straining the grid and driving up everyone’s electric bills. Just look at how Jersey City and Bayonne banned data centers, but they’re still stuck with a polluted river thanks to a diesel spill in Secaucus. No town can protect itself alone.”

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Background on the Diesel Spill: 

A diesel spill from an Equinix data center in Secaucus spilled at least 5,500 gallons of No. 2 diesel fuel into Anderson Creek, a tidal tributary directly connected to the Hackensack River.

Anderson Creek is part of the Anderson Creek Marsh, a roughly 52-acre tidal wetland along the Hackensack River. The area includes open water, exposed mudflats, and native marsh vegetation, including smooth cordgrass.

Damage to Wildlife and Vegetation: 

Diesel can cause environmental damage without producing an immediate fish kill. No. 2 diesel contains toxic petroleum compounds that can affect fish, shellfish, insects, worms, and other aquatic organisms. Eggs, larvae and small organisms at the bottom of the food chain are especially vulnerable.

Diesel can also damage native cordgrass, which helps stabilize sediment, provides habitat, and supports the functioning of the wetland. Petroleum exposure can injure marsh vegetation depending on how much oil reaches the plants, how long it remains, and whether it reaches their roots and surrounding sediment. The extent of any damage from this spill will require monitoring.