"Developers could start building “non-emitting” components ahead of air permitting under Administrator Lee Zeldin’s proposal."
"EPA on Monday proposed allowing data centers, power plants and other industrial facilities to begin certain construction work before obtaining required federal air permits.
The proposal is the latest development in the Trump administration’s effort to juice new manufacturing and other industries, especially artificial intelligence.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the change will cut through red tape to speed up projects. “Today’s proposal works to provide solutions to issues that have held up critical American infrastructure and advance the next great technological forefront,” he said in a statement.
New facilities that qualify as major sources of pollution, or major sources undergoing significant modifications, must go through a permitting process known as New Source Review to ensure their emissions won’t worsen air quality beyond current levels. Industry leaders have long argued NSR permitting is time-consuming and costly."
Alex Guillén reports for E&E News May 11, 2026.
