Data center glitch releases 5,000 gallons diesel into New Jersey wetlands

A technical malfunction at an Equinix data center near Secaucus caused a storage tank to release about 5,000 gallons of diesel into adjacent wetlands. Mayor Michael Gonnelli identified the tank as the source and attributed the spill to a computer glitch, while the company announced an ongoing review of the incident. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection responded quickly, employing vacuum trucks and containment barriers to prevent the diesel from entering the Hackensack River.

The facility, operating since 2001, has faced growing scrutiny as the data-center industry expands across the state. Local activist Ben Dziobek criticized the lack of regulatory oversight, saying new centers are emerging unchecked. Officials emphasized that the immediate environmental threat was mitigated through the rapid cleanup effort.