Republicans in Congress are advancing legislation to shield fossil fuel companies from climate-related lawsuits, claiming scientific links between emissions and disasters lack credibility. Rep. Hageman and Sen. Cruz have introduced companion bills that would grant broad immunity to the energy industry, part of broader efforts by fossil fuel allies to remove environmental regulations.
Iowa, once a leader in wind power, is increasingly relying on coal generation as electricity demand surges from AI and data centers, with coal's share rising sharply at major utilities in 2024-2025. The shift has caused a significant jump in harmful emissions including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, worsening air quality and public health concerns in a state already facing elevated cancer rates.
Former EPA officials warn that the Trump administration has weakened pollution safeguards for data centers through at least 30 regulatory actions since January 2025, potentially increasing health risks as 1,500+ new data centers are planned. The EPA has dismantled its research capacity and shifted priorities to support AI infrastructure development, allowing construction before air permits are obtained and keeping coal plants online to power facilities.
The U.S. federal air monitoring network has declined significantly over two decades due to reduced funding and aging equipment, leaving many communities unable to detect dangerous pollution. As public monitoring weakens and wildfire smoke and data centers increase pollution threats, communities have turned to low-cost sensors, but industry-backed legislation in Louisiana, Ohio, and Kentucky is restricting their use in enforcement actions.
The Environmental Protection Network is an organization of over 800 former EPA staff and appointees that provides objective analysis and scientific expertise to advance environmental policies, address climate change and environmental injustices, and support underrepresented communities in EPA workforce development.
The EPA plans to eliminate federal requirements for public review and comment on air-pollution permits for data centers and associated power plants, while also allowing construction to begin before permits are approved. The changes disproportionately affect rural communities in the South with large Black populations, raising concerns about health risks, utility costs, and displacement despite 70% of Americans opposing data centers in their communities.
The Trump administration's EPA is proposing to weaken methane regulations for over 700,000 low-producing oil and gas wells that generate minimal energy but produce roughly half the sector's methane pollution. The rollback, which would save companies $42 billion through 2050, follows lobbying by industry groups and reflects influence from oil billionaire Jeffery Hildebrand, whose company profits from managing old stripper wells.
North Carolina reached a nearly $600 million settlement with DuPont and Chemours over illegal PFAS chemical dumping in the Cape Fear River, the largest environmental damage payment in state history. The settlement will fund water system improvements across 11 counties over 15 years, addressing contamination affecting 3.5 million residents. Chemours has already implemented cleanup measures including treatment systems and a subsurface barrier wall.