PEC and DEQ disagree on data center health impacts

The Piedmont Environmental Council released a study (EmPower Analytics Group) on health impacts of Virginia’s first data center using onsite gas turbines; the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) released a report challenging PEC’s findings.

• Main action: The PEC-commissioned study by EmPower Analytics Group estimates population-level exposure and health effects from permitted emissions of onsite natural gas turbines at Virginia’s first data center running on onsite power generation; DEQ issued a separate report that evaluates regulatory compliance and permitting rather than projecting health outcomes.
• Background and details:DEQ is implementing more air monitoring via the Data Center Air Monitoring Project and maintains an Issued Air Permits for Data Centers webpage; PEC highlights 5-10-year delays in grid development and urges that each proposed onsite natural gas power plant be reviewed as a major new source with full permit review and public comment.