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TechRadar · September 26, 2026 · On the brief until October 10, 2026

New Jersey hits data center powering Microsoft Copilot with $1m fine after drone expose 62 secretly-installed gas generators

Environmental SciencePublic AdministrationCivil Engineering
THE AI ANGLE
Driving off-grid electricity demand for Microsoft Copilot

New Jersey regulators fined a data center operator $1.07 million for running 62 unpermitted gas generators to power Microsoft Copilot. State investigators verified the operating equipment with a thermal drone after a neighbor noticed the site. The penalty shows public administrators and engineers that off-grid backup systems face strict air quality enforcement even when reducing strain on the local electrical grid.

Summary written by AI Business Lens with an AI model from the article at techradar.com. It is not the article, and the publisher has not reviewed it. For publishers.

THE TEACHING ANGLE
Regulators permitted the facility to continue running the unpermitted generators for 45 days while the company applies for required permits.

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