These data center developers asked Trump for an exemption from pollution rules

These data center developers asked Trump for an exemption from pollution rules

News Clipgrist.org·Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, UT·2/24/2026

Novva, a data center developer in Utah, ran into power supply issues with the local utility Rocky Mountain Power. To meet the power demands of a major customer, Novva sought to use diesel and gas-fired generators, which would violate emissions limits. The company appealed to the EPA under the Trump administration for an exemption from environmental regulations, citing national security interests related to AI development. Although the exemption was not granted, the article highlights the data center industry's efforts to bypass environmental regulations in order to rapidly expand capacity.

electricityenvironmental
Gov: Utah Division of Air Quality, EPA
Though the companies weren't granted exemptions, their requests illustrate the data center industry's desperate quest for energy.