Datacenter developers accused of skirting US air pollution rules
Environmental groups say some technology companies are structuring permit applications to avoid stricter federal scrutiny of emissions, The Guardian reports.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
Datacenter developers are manipulating the US Environmental Protection Agency's air pollution permitting process to avoid emissions controls and closer scrutiny of their projects, environmental advocates allege, according to The Guardian.
Companies are required to obtain federal permits to emit a range of pollutants. Advocates cited in the report say some large technology firms are splitting their emissions sources into multiple smaller, separate sources within a single project, allowing them to qualify for "minor" permitting reviews that carry less regulatory oversight than the "major" reviews larger combined emissions sources would trigger.
The tactic comes amid a rapid expansion of datacenter construction in the US, driven in large part by demand for computing capacity to support artificial intelligence and cloud computing services. The report does not name every company alleged to have used the practice, nor does it detail a response from industry groups.
The Guardian's report frames the allegations as part of a wider debate over the environmental footprint of the datacenter boom, including its effects on local air quality and energy demand.
Sources
- Datacenter developers accused of skirting key US pollution rules — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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