It must be nice to have complete control over what goes in your backyard.
asserted
what → have → backyard
President Donald Trump certainly believes he has that power.
asserted
he → believe → power
Just look at the UFC venue he had built in the South Lawn, and the giant construction project where the East Wing used to be.
asserted
Wing → look → Lawn
Meanwhile, his administration is seeking to end the same decision-making power for Americans in the face of the inundation of proposals for data centers, popping up left and right in backyards.
asserted
administration → seek → backyards
Recommended Stories
The Environmental Protection Agency has made supporting hyperscale data centers a key element of agency policy.
asserted
supporting → make → policy
The EPA, under Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced that a core pillar of the agency’s role is to “cut red tape for AI infrastructure projects” to “support the growth of AI and data centers.”
asserted
pillar → announce → AI
Part of this effort is to reduce the public’s ability to have a say in the environmental impact of these highly polluting facilities.
asserted
Part → reduce → facilities
Trump has claimed that they will result in lower electricity costs, more local jobs, and community benefits, all with little proof.
asserted
they → claim → proof
Since then, Zeldin has announced several initiatives, all of which would decrease or end the ability of the public to have a say on data centers in their backyards.
asserted
all → announce → backyards
In September 2025, Zeldin said the EPA is considering a nationwide Clean Water Act Section 404 permit for data centers “that would eliminate pre-construction notification requirements for development sites.”
asserted
that → say → sites
This would remove the requirement that data center developers notify local officials and citizens about a possible center, thus making it easier for them to fly under the radar.
asserted
them → remove → radar
In May 2026, the EPA proposed to allow developers of massive data centers to begin actual site clearing and some construction prior to obtaining an air permit.
uncertain
developers → propose → permit
This would mean that data center construction could start before meaningful public review and comment on the project, which are typically required before a project starts construction.
uncertain
project → mean → construction
Most air permitting required by federal law is actually done by states and localities with EPA oversight.
asserted
permitting → require → oversight
In July, the EPA proposed to allow implementing states and localities to no longer require public participation when considering certain air permit applications, including gas and diesel generators serving data centers.
asserted
states → propose → centers
Again, the agency is seeking to exclude citizens from any meaningful chance to have a say in the environmental impacts of these projects.
asserted
agency → seek → projects
The EPA’s efforts to support data centers also extend to the power plants being built to supply energy to them.
asserted
efforts → support → them
The EPA just announced that it does not believe certain air pollution programs apply to power generation facilities that only supply power to a designated facility, such as a data center.
asserted
that → announce → center
This move would remove another chance for the public to learn about and have a say in the creation of pollution in their backyards.
asserted
public → remove → backyards
While the EPA has been making every effort to reduce the opportunity for public input and meaningful review of data centers, it has bent over backward to aid data center developers to “speed up the ability to build data centers and the necessary backup generation.”
asserted
it → make → centers
It launched the “Clean Air Resources for Data Centers” webpage so that “infrastructure developers can move more confidently and quickly.”
asserted
developers → launch → webpage
It makes the EPA’s Air Office staff available to help data center developers and local authorities to “exercise discretion and flexibilities in the permitting processes.”
asserted
developers → make → processes
The recent groundswell in public concern across the political spectrum about data centers demonstrates grassroots democracy in action.
asserted
groundswell → demonstrate → action
Regardless of your political leanings, the ability of the public to learn about and have a say in what happens in their communities is the bedrock of the American ideal of individual autonomy and power over our own property and well-being.
asserted
what → learn → property
If we are going to have to live near an air, water, or noise pollution source, we should at least know about it and have a chance for our voices to be heard.
asserted
voices → go → chance
The EPA should be a champion of clean air and water and the public’s right to be heard, not of data center developers.
asserted
EPA → hear → developers
The Aporia
