Residents pack Kenilworth council meeting to oppose CoreWeave data center, citing water, power and transparency concerns

Hundreds of residents filled Kenilworth Borough Hall on June 3 to press the council for more information and stronger protections related to a proposed CoreWeave data center at the former Merk industrial site.

Speakers raised a steady stream of concerns during the public-comment portion of the meeting, focusing on three recurring themes: resource demand, environmental and health impacts, and a perceived lack of transparent, independent review. "This data center will require 250 megawatts of power," said Sophia Pon, identifying herself as a Union County resident and student, adding that backup generators and increased local electricity demand could strain the grid and harm public health. Tyler Rich, a university student, told the council that large data centers consume significant amounts of water and electricity and warned that cooling systems can produce noise, steam and local environmental stress.

Other speakers cited specific examples from other states and local incidents. Tinu Dvich said CoreWeave reportedly carries large corporate debts and relies heavily on a single customer, which he argued increases financial risk for the community if the company’s plans change; Dvich urged the council to weigh community exposure before finalizing agreements. Several residents described seeing discolored "brown" water or visible emissions near the industrial campus and requested independent sampling and monitoring. Council members and the borough attorney said the visible plume noted by some residents is steam from an existing cooling/boiler system on the campus and that a data center operation (the Merk/Merc facility) has operated on-site previously.

Residents repeatedly asked when the public would see the redevelopment agreement, environmental-impact studies and other analyses. "Has this specific project been independently evaluated? Where is that analysis?" asked Victor Gomes, urging release of the documents the council is relying on. Borough officials responded that the redevelopment agreement with CoreWeave is not yet executed and that some regulatory authority (air and water quality, emissions) lies with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection rather than the borough. The borough attorney told the audience the council cannot unilaterally regulate statewide matters such as certain emissions or water-use standards and recommended residents direct those concerns to the appropriate state agencies.

Several speakers proposed local mitigation measures the council could pursue or request in the redevelopment agreement, including stronger limits on prolonged generator operation, industrial wastewater permitting, groundwater protections, lighting standards to reduce glare and buyout programs for nearby homeowners who could experience property-value impacts.

Council business earlier in the meeting included routine department reports and two formal votes: approval of the minutes for May 6 and May 20, 2026, and passage of the consent agenda (resolutions 26-137 through 26-145). During the meeting, the council voted to open the floor to public comment and later adjourned after summarizing the town's redevelopment history. Mayor Carlo said the council remains committed to transparency and to negotiating protections that "strengthen our local economy and minimize negative impacts on residents’ quality of life." The mayor and other council members emphasized that additional steps remain in the redevelopment process and that the council will continue to work with county and state partners and the applicant.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the referenced minutes (motion by Councilman Bole, second by Councilwoman Girardano Perno; unanimous roll-call yes votes) and approved the consent agenda in a single motion (motion by Councilman Finestrella, second by Councilman Marorrow; unanimous yes votes). A motion to open the floor for public comment passed (motion by Councilman Marorrow, second by Councilman Piper). The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn.

What happens next: Council members said the redevelopment agreement is still being negotiated and that OPRA and document requests submitted by residents are being processed. Officials reiterated that state agencies have authority over many environmental and public-health matters and encouraged residents to submit evidence and questions to both municipal staff and state regulators.

Key quotes: "There is no pilot and there is no redevelopment agreement executed yet," the borough attorney said when asked about formal deals with the applicant. "If this project proceeds without adequate review and the risks materialize, not a single one of you will be able to say residents didn't raise these concerns," Victor Gomes said during public comment.

The council adjourned after the public-comment period; council members said they would continue to post updates and work through public-record requests.