EPA Proposal Could Leave Communities in the Dark About New AI Data Centers

EPA proposal could leave the public in the dark on data center plans

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A plan by the Environmental Protection Agency could make it harder for the public to learn about and comment on proposed AI data centers that have sparked backlash in communities across the United States and transformed the midterm election landscape. The EPA proposal would eliminate a federal requirement that states notify the public and seek comment before issuing air pollution permits for data centers and other industrial facilities. States could still offer opportunities for public comment, but the EPA would no longer mandate them as a condition for states to grant permits. Critics say the move could thwart local residents from learning about proposed data centers or making their voices heard before projects are approved and construction begins. The move comes during a widespread backlash as tech giants build hundreds of massive server warehouses to fuel artificial intelligence and cloud computing. "By eliminating the long-standing federal requirement for public notice, this proposal continues efforts by the Trump administration to turn its back on the fundamental EPA principle of transparency," said Mike Koerber, a former deputy director of EPA's air quality office. If made final, the plan could create "an unlevel playing field where citizens in one state are kept completely in the dark about new data centers and heavy industrial emissions in their backyards, while neighboring states maintain oversight," he said. Under the EPA plan, states with weak or no requirements for public comment could speed permits for data centers, power plants and other pollution sources without consulting the public or even informing communities where the facilities are located, Koerber and other critics said. Communities deserve a chance to weigh in, advocates say "Data centers and other industrial sources should not be able to get their air pollution permits in secret," said Keri Powell, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, an advocacy organization that leads a coalition of nearly 200 environmental, health and community groups that filed comments with the EPA opposing the plan. "Communities deserve a chance to weigh in" before potentially harmful projects are approved. An EPA spokesperson called that a false narrative. "In our proposal we are saying that states get to pick how they want their permitting process to go for minor sources" of air pollution, spokesperson Carolyn Holran said. The EPA proposal does not specifically identify data centers, she said, noting that the plan also would apply to laundromats, car repair shops and even landfills and steel mills that are considered "minor" pollution sources under the federal Clean Air Act. The proposal does not demand that states make particular changes to their programs, nor does it alter federal emission standards or weaken environmental protections, Holran said. "Rather, the proposal simply aligns the national program with the Clean Air Act language to ensure that states are in the lead regarding their programs." EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who has made U.S. leadership in AI a top agency priority, said in a statement that the plan is aimed at "cutting unnecessary and burdensome red tape, unleashing American energy and advancing cooperative federalism" with states. The EPA is expected to make the rule final next year. President Donald Trump continues to stick up for data centers, even as politicians from both parties criticize them and many communities try to block them. Trump said on social media this week that U.S. communities that don't have data centers will "end up being backwards and poor." Trump says data centers are crucial in the AI race against China Trump has acknowledged that data centers need "a little public relations help" and has pushed tech companies to generate their own electricity to shield consumers from higher utility bills. The Republican president calls data centers critical to winning the AI race against China. Environmental groups and other critics say the EPA proposal ignores the reality that many states, particularly in the South and Midwest, don't require public notice or hearings beyond those set by federal agencies. The federal plan would leave many communities in the dark before data centers show up in their backyards, they said. "It's beyond cruel for Trump's EPA to silence front-line communities who bear the brunt of unhealthy air," said Brandon Jones-Cobb, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, another environmental group. The EPA "has already turned its back on science, cut enforcement against industrial polluters and eliminated life-saving air pollution measures," he said. "Now it wants to shut the public out of decisions to build or expand facilities that expose communities to dangerous air pollution, including data centers." Powell, whose organization focuses on six Southern states from Virginia to Alabama, said many states "only do what is required by federal law" when it comes to public notice of land-use projects and other environmental concerns. "We rely on a minimum federal requirement to ensure we have environmental protections and a voice,'' she said in an interview, calling regulation of data centers a crucial issue in a region where the energy-hungry behemoths are proliferating. Virginia and Georgia are both among states with the highest concentration of current and proposed data centers. Americans worry data centers could cause pollution, job losses Besides powering AI and cloud computing, data centers are often sources of nitrogen oxide, which helps form ozone, as well as carbon monoxide and other air pollutants. Local communities also have expressed concerns about excessive water use and noise from data centers. Many Americans worry that AI could increase economic disparities and cause widespread job losses. Data center advocates stress that local taxes paid by the centers can help fund public schools, reducing the financial burden on homeowners. Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics, said even if data centers ultimately are approved, "every community should be able to participate robustly in governmental decisions that can pollute our air.'' Rolling back the EPA rule "pulls a dark cloud, filled with soot and toxic chemicals, over communities' right to know what polluting facilities are planned in their community," she said.

Communities may soon be left in the dark about new local data centers under a proposed EPA rule change

People might not know when a data center is proposed in their community AI data centers are becoming a hot topic in many communities across the country. Every time big tech launches a new, more capable model or advanced feature, the use cases increase the need for more compute power for AI tools and cloud services. Now, a proposed change from the Environmental Protection Agency could make it harder for residents of proposed data center locations to find out about the projects before they are approved. As reported by the Associated Press on Thursday, the proposal would remove a federal requirement for states to give the public notice and an opportunity to comment before issuing certain air pollution permits. Although the change is not specific to data centers, it would apply to a category of facilities considered "minor" sources of air pollution under the Clean Air Act. These include businesses ranging from repair shops and laundromats to landfills and steel mills. It could also apply to data centers, making the proposal especially important as big tech races to secure locations to support AI growth. What is the EPA proposing? The EPA first proposed the rule in July, and it involves a part of the Clean Air Act called the New Source Review, or NSR, program. Right now, under federal regulations, minimum requirements are set to ensure the public is involved when states and local agencies handle these minor-source permits. According to the EPA's explanation of the permitting process, the public is given 30 days to submit their concerns or request a public hearing. Although the EPA wants to eliminate that, it doesn't mean every state would stop notifying residents about proposed facilities. It just wouldn't be a requirement. The concern leans more toward states that don't have strong requirements already in place of their own. Why does this matter for data centers? Data centers need enormous amounts of power to keep thousands of servers running. Additionally, they have diesel generators that can provide backup power if there is a problem with the electric grid. Those generators can release pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Depending on the size of a project and its expected emissions, the generators can be covered by minor-source air permits. Data centers have also become a much bigger political issue as AI companies expand their infrastructure. Communities have raised concerns about their electricity and water use, noise and pollution. At the same time, supporters point to the investment and tax revenue they can bring to local communities. The debate is especially important in places such as Virginia and Georgia, which have become major centers for data center construction. The AP reports that environmental groups are concerned about states in the South and Midwest where local public-notice requirements may not go beyond what the federal government requires. If the federal requirement disappears, residents in one state might continue receiving notices about proposed projects while people in another state could have fewer opportunities to learn about them or comment before a permit is approved. Why does the EPA want to change the rule? The EPA says the proposal is about reducing unnecessary delays rather than weakening environmental protections. The agency argues that minor sources generally produce lower emissions than major sources and that the Clean Air Act itself does not require these federal public-notice and comment procedures for minor sources. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the change would cut "unnecessary and burdensome red tape" while giving more authority to state and local governments. The EPA also says the proposal would not change emissions standards. Facilities would still have to meet applicable air-quality requirements. An EPA spokesperson told the AP that describing the proposal as an attempt to hide data centers is a "false narrative." The agency's position is that states should decide how their own public participation process works. Critics see the situation differently Mike Koerber, a former deputy director of the EPA's air quality office, told the AP that eliminating the federal requirement could create an "unlevel playing field" where residents in some states know about new projects while those elsewhere do not. A coalition of nearly 200 environmental, health and community groups has also opposed the proposal. Keri Powell, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, told the AP that communities should have an opportunity to weigh in before projects that could affect them are approved. Data centers are becoming a political issue The proposal comes as the Trump administration pushes for faster development of AI infrastructure in the United States. President Donald Trump has argued that data centers are important to America's competition with China in artificial intelligence. He has also acknowledged the growing public resistance to them and has urged technology companies to generate their own electricity rather than driving up utility costs for other customers. Final thoughts According to a 2025 AP-NORC poll, about four in 10 American adults said they were extremely or very concerned about AI's effects on the environment. Americans were also more likely to believe AI would hurt rather than help the environment over the next decade. Data centers are not the only facilities that would be affected by the EPA proposal, and eliminating the federal requirement would not automatically eliminate public input everywhere. But the debate raises a bigger question as AI expands: How much should people get to know about -- and have a say in -- the infrastructure being built in their communities? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok.

This EPA proposal on data centers could leave the public in the dark about air pollution

The proposal seeks to eliminate a federal requirement on public commentary. A plan by the Environmental Protection Agency could make it harder for the public to learn about and comment on proposed AI data centers that have sparked backlash in communities across the United States and transformed the midterm election landscape. The EPA proposal would eliminate a federal requirement that states notify the public and seek comment before issuing air pollution permits for data centers and other industrial facilities. States could still offer opportunities for public comment, but the EPA would no longer mandate them as a condition for states to grant permits. Critics say the move could thwart local residents from learning about proposed data centers or making their voices heard before projects are approved and construction begins. The move comes during a widespread backlash as tech giants build hundreds of massive server warehouses to fuel artificial intelligence and cloud computing. "By eliminating the long-standing federal requirement for public notice, this proposal continues efforts by the Trump administration to turn its back on the fundamental EPA principle of transparency," said Mike Koerber, a former deputy director of EPA's air quality office. If made final, the plan could create "an unlevel playing field where citizens in one state are kept completely in the dark about new data centers and heavy industrial emissions in their backyards, while neighboring states maintain oversight," he said. Under the EPA plan, states with weak or no requirements for public comment could speed permits for data centers, power plants and other pollution sources without consulting the public or even informing communities where the facilities are located, Koerber and other critics said. Communities deserve a chance to weigh in, advocates say "Data centers and other industrial sources should not be able to get their air pollution permits in secret," said Keri Powell, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, an advocacy organization that leads a coalition of nearly 200 environmental, health and community groups that filed comments with the EPA opposing the plan. "Communities deserve a chance to weigh in" before potentially harmful projects are approved. An EPA spokesperson called that a false narrative. "In our proposal we are saying that states get to pick how they want their permitting process to go for minor sources" of air pollution, spokesperson Carolyn Holran said. The EPA proposal does not specifically identify data centers, she said, noting that the plan also would apply to laundromats, car repair shops and even landfills and steel mills that are considered "minor" pollution sources under the federal Clean Air Act. The proposal does not demand that states make particular changes to their programs, nor does it alter federal emission standards or weaken environmental protections, Holran said. "Rather, the proposal simply aligns the national program with the Clean Air Act language to ensure that states are in the lead regarding their programs." EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who has made U.S. leadership in AI a top agency priority, said in a statement that the plan is aimed at "cutting unnecessary and burdensome red tape, unleashing American energy and advancing cooperative federalism" with states. The EPA is expected to make the rule final next year. President Donald Trump continues to stick up for data centers, even as politicians from both parties criticize them and many communities try to block them. Trump said on social media this week that U.S. communities that don't have data centers will "end up being backwards and poor." Trump says data centers are crucial in the AI race against China Trump has acknowledged that data centers need "a little public relations help" and has pushed tech companies to generate their own electricity to shield consumers from higher utility bills. The Republican president calls data centers critical to winning the AI race against China. Environmental groups and other critics say the EPA proposal ignores the reality that many states, particularly in the South and Midwest, don't require public notice or hearings beyond those set by federal agencies. The federal plan would leave many communities in the dark before data centers show up in their backyards, they said. "It's beyond cruel for Trump's EPA to silence front-line communities who bear the brunt of unhealthy air," said Brandon Jones-Cobb, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, another environmental group. The EPA "has already turned its back on science, cut enforcement against industrial polluters and eliminated life-saving air pollution measures," he said. "Now it wants to shut the public out of decisions to build or expand facilities that expose communities to dangerous air pollution, including data centers." Powell, whose organization focuses on six Southern states from Virginia to Alabama, said many states "only do what is required by federal law" when it comes to public notice of land-use projects and other environmental concerns. "We rely on a minimum federal requirement to ensure we have environmental protections and a voice," she said in an interview, calling regulation of data centers a crucial issue in a region where the energy-hungry behemoths are proliferating. Virginia and Georgia are both among states with the highest concentration of current and proposed data centers. Americans worry data centers could cause pollution, job losses Besides powering AI and cloud computing, data centers are often sources of nitrogen oxide, which helps form ozone, as well as carbon monoxide and other air pollutants. Local communities also have expressed concerns about excessive water use and noise from data centers. Many Americans worry that AI could increase economic disparities and cause widespread job losses. Data center advocates stress that local taxes paid by the centers can help fund public schools, reducing the financial burden on homeowners. Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics, said even if data centers ultimately are approved, "every community should be able to participate robustly in governmental decisions that can pollute our air." Rolling back the EPA rule "pulls a dark cloud, filled with soot and toxic chemicals, over communities' right to know what polluting facilities are planned in their community," she said.

EPA Proposal Could Leave the Public in the Dark on Data Center Plans

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A plan by the Environmental Protection Agency could make it harder for the public to learn about and comment on proposed AI data centers that have sparked backlash in communities across the United States and transformed the midterm election landscape. The EPA proposal would eliminate a federal requirement that states notify the public and seek comment before issuing air pollution permits for data centers and other industrial facilities. States could still offer opportunities for public comment, but the EPA would no longer mandate them as a condition for states to grant permits. Critics say the move could thwart local residents from learning about proposed data centers or making their voices heard before projects are approved and construction begins. The move comes during a widespread backlash as tech giants build hundreds of massive server warehouses to fuel artificial intelligence and cloud computing. "By eliminating the long-standing federal requirement for public notice, this proposal continues efforts by the Trump administration to turn its back on the fundamental EPA principle of transparency," said Mike Koerber, a former deputy director of EPA's air quality office. If made final, the plan could create "an unlevel playing field where citizens in one state are kept completely in the dark about new data centers and heavy industrial emissions in their backyards, while neighboring states maintain oversight," he said. Under the EPA plan, states with weak or no requirements for public comment could speed permits for data centers, power plants and other pollution sources without consulting the public or even informing communities where the facilities are located, Koerber and other critics said. Communities deserve a chance to weigh in, advocates say "Data centers and other industrial sources should not be able to get their air pollution permits in secret," said Keri Powell, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, an advocacy organization that leads a coalition of nearly 200 environmental, health and community groups that filed comments with the EPA opposing the plan. "Communities deserve a chance to weigh in" before potentially harmful projects are approved. An EPA spokesperson called that a false narrative. "In our proposal we are saying that states get to pick how they want their permitting process to go for minor sources" of air pollution, spokesperson Carolyn Holran said. The EPA proposal does not specifically identify data centers, she said, noting that the plan also would apply to laundromats, car repair shops and even landfills and steel mills that are considered "minor" pollution sources under the federal Clean Air Act. The proposal does not demand that states make particular changes to their programs, nor does it alter federal emission standards or weaken environmental protections, Holran said. "Rather, the proposal simply aligns the national program with the Clean Air Act language to ensure that states are in the lead regarding their programs." EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who has made U.S. leadership in AI a top agency priority, said in a statement that the plan is aimed at "cutting unnecessary and burdensome red tape, unleashing American energy and advancing cooperative federalism" with states. The EPA is expected to make the rule final next year. President Donald Trump continues to stick up for data centers, even as politicians from both parties criticize them and many communities try to block them. Trump said on social media this week that U.S. communities that don't have data centers will "end up being backwards and poor." Trump says data centers are crucial in the AI race against China Trump has acknowledged that data centers need "a little public relations help" and has pushed tech companies to generate their own electricity to shield consumers from higher utility bills. The Republican president calls data centers critical to winning the AI race against China. Environmental groups and other critics say the EPA proposal ignores the reality that many states, particularly in the South and Midwest, don't require public notice or hearings beyond those set by federal agencies. The federal plan would leave many communities in the dark before data centers show up in their backyards, they said. "It's beyond cruel for Trump's EPA to silence front-line communities who bear the brunt of unhealthy air," said Brandon Jones-Cobb, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, another environmental group. The EPA "has already turned its back on science, cut enforcement against industrial polluters and eliminated life-saving air pollution measures," he said. "Now it wants to shut the public out of decisions to build or expand facilities that expose communities to dangerous air pollution, including data centers." Powell, whose organization focuses on six Southern states from Virginia to Alabama, said many states "only do what is required by federal law" when it comes to public notice of land-use projects and other environmental concerns. "We rely on a minimum federal requirement to ensure we have environmental protections and a voice,'' she said in an interview, calling regulation of data centers a crucial issue in a region where the energy-hungry behemoths are proliferating. Virginia and Georgia are both among states with the highest concentration of current and proposed data centers. Americans worry data centers could cause pollution, job losses Besides powering AI and cloud computing, data centers are often sources of nitrogen oxide, which helps form ozone, as well as carbon monoxide and other air pollutants. Local communities also have expressed concerns about excessive water use and noise from data centers. Many Americans worry that AI could increase economic disparities and cause widespread job losses. Data center advocates stress that local taxes paid by the centers can help fund public schools, reducing the financial burden on homeowners. Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics, said even if data centers ultimately are approved, "every community should be able to participate robustly in governmental decisions that can pollute our air.'' Rolling back the EPA rule "pulls a dark cloud, filled with soot and toxic chemicals, over communities' right to know what polluting facilities are planned in their community," she said.

U.S. government agency's proposal could leave the public in the dark on data centre plans

WASHINGTON -- A plan by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could make it harder for the public to learn about and comment on proposed AI data centres that have sparked backlash in communities across the United States and transformed the midterm election landscape. The EPA proposal would eliminate a federal requirement that states notify the public and seek comment before issuing air pollution permits for data centres and other industrial facilities. States could still offer opportunities for public comment, but the EPA would no longer mandate them as a condition for states to grant permits. Critics say the move could thwart local residents from learning about proposed data centres or making their voices heard before projects are approved and construction begins. The move comes during a widespread backlash as tech giants build hundreds of massive server warehouses to fuel artificial intelligence and cloud computing. "By eliminating the long-standing federal requirement for public notice, this proposal continues efforts by the Trump administration to turn its back on the fundamental EPA principle of transparency," said Mike Koerber, a former deputy director of EPA's air quality office. If made final, the plan could create "an unlevel playing field where citizens in one state are kept completely in the dark about new data centres and heavy industrial emissions in their backyards, while neighbouring states maintain oversight," he said. Under the EPA plan, states with weak or no requirements for public comment could speed permits for data centres, power plants and other pollution sources without consulting the public or even informing communities where the facilities are located, Koerber and other critics said. Communities deserve a chance to weigh in, advocates say "Data centres and other industrial sources should not be able to get their air pollution permits in secret," said Keri Powell, senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, an advocacy organization that leads a coalition of nearly 200 environmental, health and community groups that filed comments with the EPA opposing the plan. "Communities deserve a chance to weigh in" before potentially harmful projects are approved. An EPA spokesperson called that a false narrative. "In our proposal we are saying that states get to pick how they want their permitting process to go for minor sources" of air pollution, spokesperson Carolyn Holran said. The EPA proposal does not specifically identify data centres, she said, noting that the plan also would apply to laundromats, car repair shops and even landfills and steel mills that are considered "minor" pollution sources under the U.S. federal Clean Air Act. The proposal does not demand that states make particular changes to their programs, nor does it alter federal emission standards or weaken environmental protections, Holran said. "Rather, the proposal simply aligns the national program with the Clean Air Act language to ensure that states are in the lead regarding their programs." EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who has made U.S. leadership in AI a top agency priority, said in a statement that the plan is aimed at "cutting unnecessary and burdensome red tape, unleashing American energy and advancing cooperative federalism" with states. The EPA is expected to make the rule final next year. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to stick up for data centres, even as politicians from both parties criticize them and many communities try to block them. Trump said on social media this week that U.S. communities that don't have data centres will "end up being backwards and poor." Trump says data centres are crucial in the AI race against China Trump has acknowledged that data centres need "a little public relations help" and has pushed tech companies to generate their own electricity to shield consumers from higher utility bills. The Republican president calls data centres critical to winning the AI race against China. Environmental groups and other critics say the EPA proposal ignores the reality that many states, particularly in the South and Midwest, don't require public notice or hearings beyond those set by federal agencies. The federal plan would leave many communities in the dark before data centres show up in their backyards, they said. "It's beyond cruel for Trump's EPA to silence front-line communities who bear the brunt of unhealthy air," said Brandon Jones-Cobb, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, another environmental group. The EPA "has already turned its back on science, cut enforcement against industrial polluters and eliminated life-saving air pollution measures," he said. "Now it wants to shut the public out of decisions to build or expand facilities that expose communities to dangerous air pollution, including data centres." Powell, whose organization focuses on six Southern states from Virginia to Alabama, said many states "only do what is required by federal law" when it comes to public notice of land-use projects and other environmental concerns. "We rely on a minimum federal requirement to ensure we have environmental protections and a voice,'' she said in an interview, calling regulation of data centres a crucial issue in a region where the energy-hungry behemoths are proliferating. Virginia and Georgia are both among states with the highest concentration of current and proposed data centres. Americans worry data centres could cause pollution, job losses Besides powering AI and cloud computing, data centres are often sources of nitrogen oxide, which helps form ozone, as well as carbon monoxide and other air pollutants. Local communities also have expressed concerns about excessive water use and noise from data centres. Many Americans worry that AI could increase economic disparities and cause widespread job losses. Data centre advocates stress that local taxes paid by the centres can help fund public schools, reducing the financial burden on homeowners. Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics, said even if data centres ultimately are approved, "every community should be able to participate robustly in governmental decisions that can pollute our air.'' Rolling back the EPA rule "pulls a dark cloud, filled with soot and toxic chemicals, over communities' right to know what polluting facilities are planned in their community," she said.