How Can A Data Center’s Computer Glitch Lead to Massive 5,000-Gallon Diesel Spill?
A routine equipment malfunction at a New Jersey data center sent roughly a tanker truck’s worth of diesel fuel spilling into a local creek this month. An estimated 5,000 gallons of No. 2 diesel discharged from a storage tank at an Equinix data center in Secaucus on September 11, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, triggering a multiday cleanup effort and renewed scrutiny of data center infrastructure statewide.
The Mayor Says a “Computer Glitch” Triggered the Whole Spill
The spill originated from a tank outside Equinix’s NY2 facility and flowed into Anderson Creek, a tributary that eventually feeds into the Hackensack River. Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli told reporters the incident traced back to a computer glitch specifically. Bill Sheehan, executive director of Hackensack Riverkeeper, offered a similar account to CBS News, saying simply, “The computer was calling for oil.”
Crews Already Recovered 3,500 of the 5,000 Gallons Spilled
Officials moved quickly to contain the spill before it could spread further downstream. The DEP confirmed the fuel never reached the Hackensack River itself, and reported no wildlife impacts and no drinking water intakes located in the affected area. By the following Monday, cleanup crews had already recovered approximately 3,500 gallons of the estimated 5,000 to 5,500 gallons originally released.
That’s Roughly $31,000 in Diesel Lost, at Today’s Prices
The spilled fuel carries real financial weight beyond the environmental cleanup itself. At current New Jersey retail prices, 5,000 gallons of diesel would be worth roughly $31,000, based on AAA fuel-price data. Mayor Gonnelli said he expects Equinix may ultimately face a fine over the incident, though the DEP had not confirmed any specific enforcement action as of the DCNF’s reporting.
Equinix Says It Notified Officials Within Hours
Equinix confirmed it detected the leak Friday evening and moved immediately to address the situation. “The leak was stopped and we immediately engaged Clean Harbors to begin remediation efforts,” an Equinix spokesperson said. “We also contacted the Secaucus Fire Department, who responded promptly and subsequently notified the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Hudson Regional Health Commission.”
The Company Points to Two Decades in the Community
The company emphasized its long-standing presence in the community while pledging a full investigation into the root cause. “Equinix has been operating in Secaucus for more than two decades and takes our responsibility to the community seriously,” the spokesperson added. “We remain committed to resolving this quickly, transparently, and responsibly,” while working alongside state and local officials on both remediation and prevention going forward.
Nearly 100 NJ Towns Have Already Banned New Data Centers
This spill lands amid an already heated fight over data center development across New Jersey specifically right now. Close to 100 cities and towns across the state have enacted local bans on new data center facilities, according to Gothamist. Environmental activists have separately pushed Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill to consider a statewide moratorium on new data center construction entirely.
The AI Boom Is Driving a Massive Spike in Energy Demand
That opposition reflects broader anxiety about the rapid, AI-driven expansion of data center infrastructure happening nationwide. U.S. data centers are projected to require an additional 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day for electricity generation by 2035, according to a BloombergNEF outlook, a scale of growth straining both energy grids and local communities hosting the physical facilities.
This Spill Hit Right as Diesel Prices Topped $6 a Gallon
The timing also intersects with a genuine diesel price crisis playing out nationally right now. The national average price of diesel surpassed $6 per gallon for the first time earlier in September, driven by disruptions tied to the Iran war and its impact on tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Diesel had averaged just $3.72 per gallon back in February, when that conflict began.
This Isn’t the Only AI Infrastructure Mishap This Year
This is not an isolated infrastructure incident tied to the broader data center boom either. A separate leak traced to a Bitcoin mining site in El Reno, Oklahoma, wasted more than three million gallons of water and forced local schools and businesses to close entirely. Together, these incidents are adding fresh urgency to debates over how quickly this infrastructure should keep expanding.