Residents packed a public meeting in Cumberland County on Wednesday night to voice concerns about a proposed 2.6 million-square-foot data center planned for Vineland. City officials moved the meeting from City Hall to the Landis Theater after anticipating a large turnout. The theater was filled w ith residents, many of whom said they oppose the project. The proposed Data One facility would cover about the size of 45 football fields and would be located about a mile from some nearby homes. Peggy Schumacher, who has lived in her Vineland home for 14 years, said she is worried about how the project could affect the community. “I’m very, very upset by this,” Schumacher said. Residents raised concerns about the data center’s potential impact on local air quality, water use and noise. Several people also complained about what they described as a humming sound coming from the site. “There are,” Schumacher said when asked whether she had concerns. “It’s brought back this nerve disease that’s been in remission in my legs. We are a mile away and the vibration in our house is horrible now. It’s making our house unlivable.” Data One, the company behind the project, said it supports city leaders and appreciates the patience of the Vineland community. The company also said the site is operating in compliance with local noise ordinance limits. Inside the meeting, police maintained a heavy security presence as residents testified before city leaders and advocacy groups asked questions about the proposal. One exchange focused on the project’s anticipated water use. When asked how much water the facility would need from the city, a representative responded, “8 million gallons on average,” but later said the company had not yet calculated the amount needed for every operation, prompting audible reactions from the crowd. The meeting continued Wednesday night. If the project is approved, Data One representatives said the data center could be built by next year. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less