As part of the Trump Administration’s support for developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure and power generation, they have rolled out a new proposal that would allow companies to start building industrial facilities before receiving an air pollution control permit.
This would contradict the Clean Air Act policy, where the law requires companies to refrain from new construction until environmental regulators finish their review to inform the public and allow them to share comments, until a final decision is made about whether or not to approve the project.
While AI and energy sectors welcome the change, environment and public health advocates argue that it would unfairly pressure regulators to issue air pollution control permits. Such facilities may emit health-damaging air pollutants.
