A $1.8 billion artificial intelligence data center under construction in Kenilworth is facing pushback from residents.

The project is located at the Northeast Science and Technology Center (NEST) campus. The old Merck & Co. building will house the data center.

CoreWeave, a company that specializes in AI infrastructure, purchased a large portion of property on the campus in 2025 to build the center.

Despite the Kenilworth Borough Council's approval of the project, it has largely flown under the radar until recently.

Some residents now told News 12 they're concerned about having a data center built near their homes. They mentioned concerns about water quality, flood risk and a potential increase in their electric bill.

"We're going to have major issues with the water in the future, with so many data centers being built. It's just not possible. We cannot sustain it. They're destroying the earth," said Union County resident Rosa Joseph.

Kenilworth Mayor Linda Karlovitch, however, said residents shouldn't see much of a difference, if any at all, once the center is operational.

"CoreWeave will be paying sales tax on the power, funding all required transmission upgrades. Those costs will not be passed on to residential rate payers," she said. "I want people to know they're using a closed loop cooling system and it avoids continuous use of local water."

State officials introduced legislation that would regulate how facilities like the Kenilworth center can source their power. The facility is also required to bring at least 100 jobs as part of a tax credit it received from the state last year.

Karlovitch said the project is estimated to be completed by the end of 2027. The center is also expected to bring 140 jobs to the area.