Tell the EPA: Don’t Hide Data Center Air Pollution from the Public

As artificial intelligence drives an explosion of data centers across the country, thousands of diesel generators, each the size of semi trucks, are bringing new air pollution to communities.

Now, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to eliminate federal public participation requirements for many “minor source” air pollution permits -- the very permits used for these tractor-trailer sized diesel generators often used by data centers as backup energy sources. This makes it harder for communities to understand, question, and challenge new pollution from data centers.

Tell the EPA to reject this proposed rule and protect every community’s right to know, participate and protect their health, clean air, and climate.

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Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-1212: Preserve Public Participation in Minor Source Air Permitting

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Dear Administrator Zeldin,

I urge the EPA to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the minimum federal public participation requirements for minor source New Source Review permits.

Every community deserves a meaningful opportunity to understand and comment on projects that could affect the air they breathe. While state and local agencies play a critical role in implementing clean air programs, minimum federal public participation standards ensure that every community has access to basic transparency and due process before new pollution sources are approved.

Across the country, rapidly expanding AI data centers are relying on dozens or even hundreds of diesel backup generators at a single campus. Although these data centers may each qualify as "minor sources," together they can create significant cumulative air pollution, including nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and greenhouse gas emissions. Sierra Club has documented more than 10,500 diesel generators at data centers in Northern Virginia alone, with permits that could allow emissions comparable to those of a mid-sized coal plant.

These cumulative impacts are precisely why public participation remains essential. Residents deserve to know when new pollution sources are proposed in their communities and have an opportunity to identify local concerns, ask questions, and ensure permitting agencies fully evaluate potential health impacts. They also play a critical role in pointing out mistakes or areas of concern the agency may have missed.

Rather than eliminating minimum public participation requirements, EPA should:
     - Maintain federal baseline requirements for public notice and comment on minor source permits
     - Encourage states to strengthen community engagement
     - Require permitting agencies to evaluate cumulative pollution from facilities, including data centers with multiple backup generators
     - Promote cleaner backup power technologies that reduce pollution while improving grid reliability

Clean air protections work best when the public has both access to information and a voice in decisions that affect their health. Weakening those protections will leave communities with less transparency at exactly the time when data center development is accelerating.

I respectfully urge EPA to withdraw this proposal and preserve meaningful public participation in the permitting process.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Dear Administrator Zeldin, I urge the EPA to withdraw its proposal to eliminate the minimum federal public participation requirements for minor source New Source Review permits. Every community deserves a meaningful opportunity to understand and comment on projects that could affect the air they breathe. While state and local agencies play a critical role in implementing clean air programs, minimum federal public participation standards ensure that every community has access to basic transparency and due process before new pollution sources are approved. Across the country, rapidly expanding AI data centers are relying on dozens or even hundreds of diesel backup generators at a single campus. Although these data centers may each qualify as "minor sources," together they can create significant cumulative air pollution, including nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and greenhouse gas emissions. Sierra Club has documented more than 10,500 diesel generators at data centers in Northern Virginia alone, with permits that could allow emissions comparable to those of a mid-sized coal plant. These cumulative impacts are precisely why public participation remains essential. Residents deserve to know when new pollution sources are proposed in their communities and have an opportunity to identify local concerns, ask questions, and ensure permitting agencies fully evaluate potential health impacts. They also play a critical role in pointing out mistakes or areas of concern the agency may have missed. Rather than eliminating minimum public participation requirements, EPA should: - Maintain federal baseline requirements for public notice and comment on minor source permits - Encourage states to strengthen community engagement - Require permitting agencies to evaluate cumulative pollution from facilities, including data centers with multiple backup generators - Promote cleaner backup power technologies that reduce pollution while improving grid reliability Clean air protections work best when the public has both access to information and a voice in decisions that affect their health. Weakening those protections will leave communities with less transparency at exactly the time when data center development is accelerating. I respectfully urge EPA to withdraw this proposal and preserve meaningful public participation in the permitting process. Thank you for considering my comments.

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