A South Jersey township banned data centers after residents spoke up. Now a developer is suing, arguing the ban violates free speech. First case of its kind.

AI data centers get talked about for water use and electricity. Noise rarely makes the list. But residents living near facilities in Vineland, NJ and Southaven, MS are recording constant industrial sound running 15 to 20 decibels above EPA health thresholds, around the clock, with no relief in sight. Neither community had meaningful say in what was built next to them. Here's what the research shows, what the law actually allows, and what residents can do about it.