Prof. James Coleman Quoted in E & E News About Environmental Review of Building New Data Centers

Professor James Coleman was quoted in E & E News About a White House executive order that streamlines the permitting for new data centers related to artificial intelligence model development. A chief way the Trump administration is aiming to expedite a build out of data centers is through regulatory changes, including environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Prof. Coleman said the language could expedite projects, but it’s not a “silver bullet that gets you out of NEPA review.” Environmentalists could still challenge projects in court if they believe a data center facility did not have adequate environmental review. He said a court “is going to make its own interpretation,” no matter what agencies do.