Client Alert: EPA Highlights Clean Air Act Resources for Data Centers

January 15, 2026

Toplines:

• Data centers’ rapid load growth and need for reliable power often require larger fleets of generators and other sources that generate regulated emissions into the atmosphere. These sources can trigger federal regulations under the Clean Air Act.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently published Clean Air Act resources for data centers, compiling federal air regulatory obligations and compliance considerations for facilities that rely on stationary sources for primary and backup power.
• The resource is intended to help owners, operators, and developers understand permitting triggers, applicable standards, and ongoing monitoring and reporting duties as power resiliency needs expand.

Key Clean Air Act Considerations for Data Centers

As a key pillar of President Trump’s Executive Order 1419, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Clean Air Act Resources for Data website. The resource hub consolidates pre-existing guidance and regulatory resources to assist data center developers and stakeholders during the pre-construction planning and Clear Air Act review process.

The resource is intended to help owners, operators, and developers understand permitting triggers, applicable standards, and ongoing monitoring and reporting duties as power-resiliency needs expand.

Most data centers operate large fleets of compression ignition engines for primary and emergency backup power. These engines are typically subject to emissions standards that may trigger permitting requirements, including New Source Review, New Source Performance Standards, or National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants program. Applicability hinges on emission limits, fuel standards, operating restrictions, among other items. EPA’s website consolidates all the rules in one place and provides regulated parties with a framework to check applicability.

Organizations should inventory all stationary sources and map each source to applicable federal standards. Additionally, procurement and engineering teams should coordinate with environmental compliance leads before finalizing engine models, ratings, and control configurations. Where initial site planning and expansions are contemplated, EPA provides the opportunity to consult with permit reviewing authorities on a case-by-case basis to identify existing data, models, and tools to demonstrate compliance and, as appropriate, exercise discretion and flexibilities in the permitting processes.

What to watch

EPA’s consolidated resource is a timely roadmap for navigating Clean Air Act obligations at data centers. EPA’s resource center signals the Administration’s continued attention to large stationary engine fleets at data centers and simplifying permitting pathways. Early, integrated planning across legal, siting, engineering, and environmental teams remains the most effective way to reduce permitting risk.

Please reach out to David Adeleye with any questions regarding your facility’s Clean Air Act permitting questions and requirements.

David Adeleye
dadeleye@crokefairchild.com
202-500-2448