Former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials have warned that the current administration is prioritizing the rapid construction of AI data centers at the expense of public health. In a new report released by the Environmental Protection Network (EPN), a group of agency alumni stated that deregulation is enabling the expansion of data centers through increased reliance on polluting energy sources.
PolicyEnvironmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Protection Network
Former EPA Officials Warn of Health Risks from AI Data Center Expansion and Deregulation
The report identifies at least 30 federal actions since January 2025 that may exacerbate health risks from data center-related pollution, with 17 of those actions specifically targeting or mentioning AI and data centers. These actions include proposals to curtail renewable energy projects and weaken pollution standards under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.
The scale of the environmental impact is significant. A study by researchers from UC Riverside, Caltech, and the Rochester Institute of Technology estimates that air pollution associated with data centers could lead to approximately 1,300 premature deaths under a high-growth scenario, and between $11.7 billion and $20.9 billion in annual public health costs by 2028.
While the administration has promoted deregulation to establish the United States as the "AI capital of the world," the EPN argues that meeting increased electricity demand does not require weakening environmental safeguards. The group is urging the administration to adopt a "Data Center Health Protection Pledge" to ensure that the infrastructure supporting generative AI does not result in increased emissions and public health burdens.
Sources
- Trump is giving data centers a pass to pollute （The Verge AI, 2026-09-12）
- Environmental Protection Network のレポート