AI Matters
Why it matters
US EPA proposes letting data centers bypass air pollution public notices
The Verge AI Trump’s EPA wants to let data centers hide their air pollution
The US Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate a rule requiring public notice and comment periods for air pollution permits issued to new data centers.
Why it matters
Local communities may lose the ability to review or contest the environmental impact of massive, energy-hungry data centers built near their homes.
Latest brief · Aug 31, 2026