US data center permitting and regulation battles

Key developments

1. Sep 3, 2026

   St. Louis enacts the first data center regulations as President Trump urges communities to embrace data centers for economic benefits, warning opponents will be left 'backwards and poor.'

   192 sources on this →
2. Sep 3, 2026

   The EPA proposes removing federal public-notice and comment requirements for minor air permits tied to data centers, drawing criticism over reduced transparency.

   10 sources on this →

Coverage across the spectrum

Stories in this storyline

Politics

St. Louis Enacts First Data Center Regulations

President Trump continues to frame data centers as a major economic opportunity, urging communities to embrace them as a path to lower taxes and more jobs while warning that opposing them will leave areas “backwards and poor.” He also argues that China is delighted by the anti-data-center movement and ties the issue to the global AI and energy policy competition, a stance echoed across his campaign trajectory.

192 sources

Politics

EPA proposal to cut data center permit notices sparks backlash

The EPA proposed a rule to remove federal public-notice and comment requirements for minor air permits tied to data centers, delegating public involvement to state and local authorities while keeping emission standards unchanged. Critics argue this reduces transparency and could leave communities uninformed about environmental impacts, especially as data-center development accelerates amid concerns about AI infrastructure, whereas supporters say the change would streamline permitting without altering pollution limits.