The Trump administration is considering an EPA rule change that would let states decide how much public notice and participation is required when new polluting facilities, including gas plants and diesel generators that power data centers, are permitted. At a Wednesday hearing, the proposal drew opposition from community advocates who argued that residents deserve a say in local development.
The change comes as data center expansion faces growing resistance across the U.S., with communities increasingly using permitting processes to delay projects. If adopted, the rule could significantly reduce public awareness of new or expanded polluting facilities in their neighborhoods.
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