Environmental advocates allege that datacenter developers are manipulating the EPA's permitting process to bypass stringent emission controls. By dividing emissions sources into multiple minor permits, companies can expedite approvals and reduce regulatory scrutiny, potentially leading to significant air pollution in already burdened areas.
In North Carolina and New Mexico, major tech firms like Amazon are reportedly using this tactic to avoid major reviews, raising concerns about public health and environmental impacts in regions already facing high pollution levels.