Washington, D.C. — Today, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would allow data centers, power plants, and industrial facilities to begin construction on “non-emitting” components before the project has received its necessary air permits. Donald Trump and Lee Zeldin’s EPA has been giving Big Tech and Big Fossil Fuel shortcuts and handouts — all in the name of bolstering data centers. Sierra Club released a new gas tracker that shows there are plans to increase online gas power plant capacity by nearly 50 percent nationwide. The tracker shows the states with the most planned gas power plant capacity are states where there are proposals for massive data centers. These gas plants, if built, will release dangerous and toxic pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and methane. These pollutants lead to health issues like respiratory illnesses, heart diseases, and cancers. In response, Sierra Club Climate Policy Director Patrick Drupp issued the following statement: “Rushing to break ground on new polluting projects, before air permits are even approved, is just the latest example of Donald Trump, Big Tech, and Big Fossil Fuel holding hands and recklessly bulldozing through processes that exist to keep our families and our communities healthy and safe. We will not allow them to throw Americans under the bus, and will push back against this dangerous attempt to give billion-dollar corporations another pollution pass.” 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.
