The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced proposed changes Monday that would allow gas power plants, data centers and factories to begin construction on non-polluting components such as piping, wiring, cement pads and other support structures before obtaining air-emission permits.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a news release that the “proposal works to provide solutions to issues that have held up critical American infrastructure and advance the next great technological forefront.” The changes will undergo a 45-day public comment period.The action comes as the Trump administration moves to reduce an array of environmental protections to speed construction and win a global AI race with China and other adversaries. Big Tech companies like Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and Google are furiously working across the nation to build the data centers—massive facilities with networked computer servers—to power the energy-intensive new technology.
In pursuit of winning the AI race, President Donald Trump last year issued an executive order to revoke many guardrails that could slow down AI development.
As data centers wait in long queues for grid upgrades before coming online, tech companies are increasingly seeking facilities with their own natural gas-fueled power plants, which have years-long construction times and climate consequences. As part of their grid upgrades to serve data centers, utilities are also building gas plants.
