Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) criticized the Trump administration’s approach to data-center development, accusing the Environmental Protection Agency of weakening environmental and public-health safeguards as it seeks to accelerate the buildout of artificial-intelligence infrastructure.
Markey Targets Trump EPA Over Data Centers
On Wednesday, Markey said in a post on X that “Trump’s EPA is rolling out the red carpet for polluting data centers all to benefit Big Tech.”
He said his new congressional report outlines what he described as attacks on environmental protections and called on Congress to act.
In a video accompanying the post, Markey said major technology companies have been “Donald Trump’s back seat driver on a reckless road trip to build data centers across the country” as they work to expand AI.
He added, “This unlimited, unregulated and undemocratic data center buildout is putting us on a crash course for disaster.”
He also criticized EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, saying the agency has made it a core mission to “make America the AI capital of the world.”
Markey described data centers as “profit-generating machines for big tech, and pollution-generating machines for small-town America.”
He called on Congress and the courts to reject what he described as attacks on environmental protections, restore the EPA’s mission and pass legislation to protect communities from data centers.
Democrats Criticized EPA Rollbacks
Earlier this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) criticized President Donald Trump and the EPA over the repeal of emission limits for fossil fuel power plants.
He accused the administration of allowing “dirty coal and gas plants” to increase pollution and said California would fight the decision in court.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) also criticized the repeal of Biden-era greenhouse gas standards, calling it “more handouts for Big Oil” and warning against trading the planet’s future for “short-term profits.”
EPA Approved Early Winter Gasoline Blend
Last month, Trump’s EPA issued an emergency waiver allowing an early shift to winter-blend gasoline to help lower fuel costs amid Strait of Hormuz tensions.
The agency authorized E10 gasoline starting Sept. 1, saying the move would boost domestic supply by hundreds of thousands of barrels per day.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright and EPA Administrator Zeldin said the measure aimed to increase gasoline supply and lower pump prices.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
