A $1.8 billion AIdata center is being built in Kenilworth, New Jersey, and one resident is making sure everyone knows about it. Jordan Panno, a Gen Z Union County resident, posted a TikTokvideo in mid-April 2026 calling out the massive project, which she says will consume as much energy as 200,000 homes. The video has already racked up 330,000 views, 25,800 likes, and over 4,000 reposts.
The site is a 400,000-square-foot facility replacing a former Merck pharmaceutical plant next to a strip mall. Construction began in September, and the plant is expected to be operational by 2027. Panno’s video is a mix of frustration, facts, and a call to action, blending local concerns with debates about sustainability, corporate influence, and the priorities of technological growth. The Merck facility had its own issues but at least produced medications and research, she says.
A typical Merck site uses about the same amount of power as 4,000 homes annually. The new AI facility is projected to use as much as 200,000 homes’ worth of energy – double the demand of large AI plants in other states like Kentucky. Panno also raises concerns about water consumption, pollution, and strain on local infrastructure in a densely populated suburban area.
Her video isn’t just about the numbers, though
Panno ties the project to New Jersey’s push to become an AI hub, questioning who really benefits from the $250 million tax credit the state is offering. She points to overdevelopment in Union County, like luxury apartments with “marble contact paper and shitty water pressure,” and calls out what she sees as “internal investment corruption.” Her message is clear: residents aren’t being consulted, and the long-term environmental and social costs are being ignored.
One small win she highlights is a recent New Jersey bill requiring AI plants to cover their own energy costs, though she notes this doesn’t address the broader issues of water use, pollution, or infrastructure strain. Panno’s video ends with a blunt call to action, urging viewers to sign her petition and use their voices. “F**k AI,” she says, wrapping up a rant that’s informative and motivational…