Vineland, NJ — As communities across the country push back against the unchecked expansion of data centers fueling the artificial intelligence boom, Democratic congressional candidate Bayly Winder is bringing the fight to South Jersey. 

Winder, who is running for Congress in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, has made opposition to a 300-megawatt AI data center in Vineland a central issue in his campaign. The scale of the project dwarfs the city’s current energy usage, exceeding Vineland’s average total demand of 164 megawatts. 

“We’re already struggling with rising utility costs and an affordability crisis,” said Winder. “We can’t allow billion-dollar corporations to write the rules behind closed doors and stick our communities with the bill.” 

On Tuesday night, Winder addressed the Vineland City Council, sharply criticizing local officials for what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability surrounding the project. 

“I’ve spoken with dozens of families, farmers, and small business owners, and they all have the same message: Vineland is not for sale. South Jersey is not for sale. People feel shut out. They feel ignored. And they feel like decisions are being made to benefit powerful corporations — not the people who actually live here. You were elected to serve the people of Vineland, not executives at billion-dollar businesses.” 

Local advocacy organizations, including Sustain SJ and Food & Water Action, have also mobilized against the development, citing concerns about energy demand, environmental impacts, and long-term affordability for residents. 

In recent weeks, Winder has circulated a petition calling on Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill to require an independent environmental review and establish clear statewide guardrails for large-scale data center projects. The petition has already garnered more than 1,000 signatures from local residents. On January 21, Winder will be holding the fourth town hall of his campaign in Vineland. 

Winder’s aggressive advocacy has drawn significant attention online as well. A recent social media video highlighting the Vineland project and its potential impacts has surpassed 90,000 views across platforms, underscoring growing public concern over the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure in New Jersey.