SECAUCUS, NJ — Cleanup crews are working to contain a diesel fuel spill from an Equinix data center in Secaucus after fuel reached Anderson Creek, a small waterway that flows toward the Hackensack River.
The spill happened Friday evening at the data center on Hartz Way, where approximately 5,500 gallons of diesel fuelleaked from a storage tank, according to local reporting.
Anderson Creek runs past the Harmon Cove area and into the Hackensack River, raising concerns about the potential spread of fuel beyond the immediate spill site. Barriers were placed in the creek to help contain the diesel, while contractors began removing contaminated oil and water.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was notified and is assisting with cleanup efforts. Officials said the work is expected to continue into the week as crews remove remaining fuel from the creek and surrounding area.
The incident comes at a time when data centers are expanding rapidly across the region, driven in part by growing demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Many large facilities rely on diesel-powered backup generators and fuel storage systems to maintain operations during power outages.
The spill also highlights a broader environmental issue surrounding large data centers: while much of the public discussion focuses on their electricity and water use, backup power systems can create additional risks when large quantities of fuel are stored on site.
State and local officials have not yet indicated the full environmental impact of the spill or whether any long-term damage to Anderson Creek or the Hackensack River is expected.
Sources: News 12 New Jersey | Patch Secaucus | Hoodline
By NJ RADAR Team
[…] spilled from a Secaucus data center into a nearby Meadowlands creek last week did not reach the Hackensack River, offering some reassurance after concerns about the spill’s potential environmental […]