Aug 27, 2026
Data Centers, and Who Gets Told Before the Permit Is Signed
The EPA has proposed dropping the rule that requires states to publish air pollution permit applications and take public comment before construction starts. That puts the question in Indianapolis.
EPA Moves to Curb Public Input on Data Centers (NYT)
Data centers are on the agenda at both of our September 2026 town halls. Here’s part of why.
The EPA has proposed dropping the federal rule that requires states to publish air pollution permit applications and take public comment before construction starts. It covers what the Clean Air Act calls minor sources, and that’s the category data centers fall into. If it’s finalized, every state decides for itself whether people still get notified.
That puts the question in Indianapolis. Indiana would decide whether you hear about a project near you before the permit is signed or after the trucks show up.
I’ve sat in enough rooms in this district to know how people feel about finding out late. It was the Mid-States Corridor. It was the battery storage project. I hear the same thing every time, from Republicans and Democrats both. Nobody asked us.
Ireland, Tuesday September 8, 2026. Princeton, Wednesday September 9, 2026. Come tell me what you think Indiana should do.