Trump’s EPA wants to let data centers hide their air pollution

image via The Verge

August 28, 2026, 4:28 PM

• •The EPA has proposed removing a federal requirement for public notice and comment when certain industrial facilities seek so-called minor-source air permits.
• •Environmental advocates say the change could let data center developers and other industries obtain permits without nearby residents knowing before construction starts.
• •The rule change affects the long-standing New Source Review permitting system, which covers facilities including landfills, paper mills, power plant expansions, and some data center-related projects.
• •Critics point to xAI's Colossus 1 data center in Tennessee, which sought a minor-source permit and drew thousands of public comments after a local notice.
• •Nearly 200 health and environmental groups urged the EPA to withdraw the proposal, arguing that public input is necessary to assess cumulative community impacts.
• •An EPA spokesperson said the agency is reviewing more than 4,900 comments before deciding whether to finalize the rule.

The Verge reports that the EPA wants to eliminate a federal requirement for public notice and comment on certain air permits under the New Source Review process. Advocates say the change could make it easier for data center developers and other industries to secure permits without alerting nearby communities before construction begins. The dispute comes as data centers face mounting opposition over pollution and power demands, with critics citing xAI's Colossus 1 project in Tennessee as a recent example. The EPA says states and local agencies should control more of the permitting process and is reviewing more than 4,900 comments before finalizing the proposal.

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