Equinix Data Center Spills 5,500 Gallons of Diesel Into Meadowlands Creek — Advocates Call for Statewide Ban

An Equinix data center in Secaucus spilled at least 5,500 gallons of No. 2 diesel fuel into Anderson Creek, a tidal tributary of the Hackensack River, over the weekend, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The spill at the Equinix NY4 facility was reported on Saturday, September 14. The fuel leaked from a storage tank at the site, which operates 18 diesel generators rated at 2.5 megawatts each for backup power.

Anderson Creek is a 52-acre tidal wetland that has been classified as a candidate restoration site. The creek has been monitored since 1993 by the Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute, providing baseline data for contamination assessment.

Cleanup Underway

NJDEP spokesperson Larry Hajna confirmed that contractors were removing oil and water from the creek, with work continuing into the coming week. The creek is small and narrow in the area of the spill, and authorities say the fuel was contained before it reached the Hackensack River.

Environmental experts warn that diesel fuel contains toxic petroleum compounds that can harm fish, shellfish, insects, and aquatic organisms. Native marsh cordgrass — critical for sediment stabilization and wetland function — faces potential injury depending on exposure duration and soil penetration.

Calls for Statewide Data Center Ban

The spill has intensified calls from environmental advocates for a statewide moratorium on data centers.

“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,” said Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of the Climate Revolution Action Network (CRAN).

Nearly 100 New Jersey municipalities have already banned data centers this year. Last month, the DataOne data center in Vineland was found operating at least 45 unpermitted gas generators.

Advocates argue that individual municipal bans are insufficient and that a statewide moratorium is necessary to address environmental and public health concerns that extend beyond municipal borders.

Equinix has not yet issued a public statement on the spill. Bergen TV has reached out for comment.