Datacenter developers accused of skirting key US pollution rules
Firms manipulating process to avoid emission controls and scrutiny of their projects, environmental groups warn Datacenter developers are manipulating the EPA’s air pollution permitting process to avoid emission controls and scrutiny of their projects, environmental advocates allege. Companies need federal permits to emit a range of pollutants. In their permit applications, some in big tech are…
Datacenter developers are allegedly exploiting the EPA's air pollution permitting process to evade emission controls and scrutiny, environmental groups claim. Several major tech firms are reportedly dividing their emissions sources into numerous "minor" sources, which require less regulatory oversight, making it easier for datacenters to avoid public scrutiny and expedite permit approvals.
This practice likely saves companies both money and effort, as they can bypass the hassle and expense of potential pollution controls. In North Carolina, Amazon and Duke Energy are constructing 649 diesel generators for a new hyperscale data center and submitted two permits, thus bypassing a major review, despite being situated in a low-income area plagued by high air pollution.
In New Mexico, Project Jupiter datacenter developers attempted to avoid a major review by proposing two natural gas "microgrids" for either side of the facility and submitting two "minor" permits, which would have resulted in pollution levels exceeding the threshold for a major review. In Maryland, four datacenters with separate minor permits operate on a single campus under a master developer, raising concerns about the cumulative pollution impact.
These regulatory maneuvers make it harder to determine the actual exposure levels of nearby residents, and the tactic is described as "lego permitting" by former EPA deputy director Michael Koerber, who now volunteers with the Environmental Protection Network. Koerber asserts that the data center industry is not the only one employing such tactics, noting that they became more common after his departure from the EPA.
Amazon has defended its actions, stating it "appropriately applied for and obtained an air permit for our datacenter project." However, the Project Jupiter datacenter's proposed natural gas turbines being split into minor permits has been deemed "preposterous" by attorneys representing affected community members in New Mexico.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
