EPA move could shield data center pollution from public oversight

The proposal targets the New Source Review process, a regulatory framework in place since the 1970s that governs emissions for facilities ranging from paper mills to power plants. As generative AI drives a surge in data center construction, these permits have become a primary battleground for residents concerned about local environmental impact. Critics argue the change effectively removes the public’s ability to intervene before developers break ground.

Keri Powell, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, warns that the shift could allow industrial projects to move forward in secrecy. Without mandatory public comment periods, communities may only learn of projects once heavy machinery is already on-site. While the EPA claims the change streamlines the permitting process, advocates fear it creates a loophole for developers to bypass local opposition, effectively silencing residents who would otherwise challenge the environmental footprint of these massive computing hubs.