Equinix diesel spill in NJ creek reignites data-center ban push
A 5,000-gallon diesel leak from a Secaucus Equinix facility into a Hackensack River tributary has become a flashpoint in New Jersey's data-center fight.
What to know
- Over 5,000 gallons of No. 2 diesel leaked from an Equinix data center storage tank in Secaucus, N.J., into Anderson Creek, a tidal tributary of the Hackensack River, starting Friday evening.
- State officials say the fuel was contained in the creek before reaching the Hackensack River; about 3,500 gallons have been recovered and no wildlife or water-intake impacts have been reported.
- The spill has become a rallying point for climate advocates seeking a statewide moratorium on new data centers, amid nearly 100 municipal bans already enacted across New Jersey.
- The Hackensack Riverkeeper is pushing the state to pursue a natural resource damages claim against Equinix, drawing a parallel to a 1994 barge spill settlement that funded river restoration.
Michael Gonnelli Mayor of Secaucus, N.J.Equinix Owner/operator of the leaking data centerBill Sheehan Hackensack RiverkeeperBen Dziobek Executive Director, Climate Revolution Action NetworkLarry Hajna NJDEP spokesperson
How it unfolded 4 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Riverkeeper seeks natural-resource damages claim against Equinix
Bill Sheehan called for the state to pursue a natural resource damages claim against Equinix, comparing the spill to a 1994 barge accident whose settlement funded Hackensack River restoration; Mayor Gonnelli said he supports the push, while DEP said no decision on fines has been made.
“The money came from the polluter across the river that spilled their barge. This time it was a data center close to the river that spilled its oil. I think we should get a damage fund for that.”
— Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper -
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# Datacenter spills 5K gallons of # diesel into # NewJersey Meadowlands - Gothamist https:// gothamist.com/news/data-center -spills-5k-gallons-of-diesel-into-new-jersey-meadowlands
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A massive diesel spill at a New Jersey data center has dumped roughly 5,000 gallons of fuel into wetlands connected to the Meadowlands. Local officials say a “computer glitch” caused the backup generator system to keep calling for fuel. The diesel entered Anderson Creek, https:// bsky.app/profile/altnps.bsky.s ocial/post/3mvnyqsqgb22n - From…
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JFC has there ever been an industry that worked harder to persuade the public to hate their guts? Data Center’s Spill of 5,000 G...
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Climate advocates demand statewide data-center moratorium
Climate Revolution Action Network director Ben Dziobek cited the spill as proof that New Jersey's town-by-town regulation of data centers is failing and renewed calls for Gov. Sherrill and the Legislature to enact a statewide ban.
“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.”
— Ben Dziobek, Climate Revolution Action Network -
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“The diesel spill into the Hackensack River 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.” Adding to the water and electricity consumption issues, a data center in # NJ spilled over $30k worth…
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NJDEP says diesel stayed in creek, ~3,500 gallons recovered
The NJDEP said the diesel was contained in Anderson Creek and did not reach the Hackensack River, reported no impacted water intakes or wildlife, and said about 3,500 gallons had been recovered so far.
“This should never have happened, and any such incident is extremely upsetting, to say the least.”
— Michael Gonnelli, Secaucus Mayor · source -
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State confirms ~5,000-gallon spill, cleanup to continue
New Jersey environmental officials confirmed roughly 5,000 gallons of fuel had spilled from the Equinix tank into Anderson Creek and said cleanup work would continue into the following week.
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first by Times of India, 7d ago · also Fortune
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first by Daily Caller, 8d ago · also NYT Business
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background
Contractors lay boom to contain spill over the weekend — Clean Harbors crews worked through the weekend to contain the diesel in the narrow creek; Hackensack Riverkeeper Bill Sheehan observed the boom being placed during a Saturday river tour and voiced doubt the spill would stay contained.
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background
Equinix data center tank leaks diesel into Anderson Creek — A storage tank at the Equinix Data Center in Secaucus began leaking diesel fuel Friday evening; Equinix and the mayor say the leak was traced to a computer glitch and flowed into Anderson Creek, a tidal tributary of the Hackensack River.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by PennLive, 8d ago · also MassLive, The Oregonian
and 1 smaller piece