Andy Li, andy.li@sierraclub.org
ATLANTA – The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed cutting the American public out of air pollution permits for “minor sources,” which includes the tractor trailer-sized diesel generators used by data centers for backup power. EPA’s proposal removes any requirement for transparency or public participation for “minor source” pollution sources, including most data centers.
As data centers rapidly expand across the country, many rely on fleets of diesel and gas generators while obtaining multiple "minor source" permits that can obscure the cumulative pollution impacts of clustered data centers. Instead of strengthening oversight, the administration is proposing to weaken one of the few tools communities have to understand and challenge new pollution sources in their neighborhoods.
In September 2024, Sierra Club began commenting on the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's (EPD) data center air permitting process, responding to concerns over the growing number of diesel generators being permitted at the facilities. Sierra Club has submitted nearly fifty sets of comments on the process, arguing data center facilities are polluting the air by burning diesel fuel and increasing electricity demand which has brought more polluting generation online; data centers should be required to use more protective emissions control technology on diesel generators; and EPD should require more transparency about the number of diesel generators operating at each facility and their cumulative effects on air quality.
A public hearing for the EPA proposal is scheduled for July 22, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET, and should be published here on Wednesday, July 8th. Comments on the proposed rule are due August 21, 2026.
In response, the Sierra Club released the following statements:
“All across Georgia, we have seen communities rally against unwanted data centers that are polluting our air, defacing our communities, and re-writing our energy future,” said Michael Hawthorne, Sierra Club Campaign Organizing Strategist. “Georgians want guardrails on this new industry, but decision makers across our government are sitting on the sidelines while Big Tech developers get rich off of the data center bubble. The Trump Administration is trying to cut the public out of the process because it knows that everyday people do not want these data centers. We cannot allow the EPA to end one of the few ways Georgians can speak out in defense of their communities.”
“Every single person in this country deserves clean air, and the EPA’s plan opens the door to silence communities concerned about the serious air quality and health impacts of thousands of diesel generators and other sources of pollution,” said Jeremy Fisher, Sierra Club Senior Advisor. “We need stronger guardrails around data centers, not less transparency. If they’re going to have any credibility around their pledges, Big Tech CEOs must tell the Trump administration to withdraw this proposed rule and strengthen public participation requirements and safeguards around data center pollution.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.