AI firms want more data centers; Trump's EPA may give neighbors less say

The Trump administration's EPA is considering a rule that would let states decide whether the public gets notice and input on permits for facilities that pollute the air, including gas plants and diesel generators that power data centers. Currently, the Clean Air Act requires some public participation in permitting processes, but enforcement varies by state, and this change would remove the federal requirement for minor pollution sources. The timing matters because data center companies face growing community opposition, and the Trump administration has actively worked to remove obstacles for data center development as part of its AI strategy. States with stronger public participation laws, like Georgia and Kentucky, could weaken their protections if the federal requirement is eliminated, while states with minimal engagement requirements, like Texas, would have even less oversight.