The Trump administration, led by EPA head Lee Zeldin, is actively dismantling Biden-era environmental regulations to facilitate the growth of AI data centers powered by fossil fuels. This includes exempting coal-fired power plants and other industrial sites from air pollution regulations. President Trump has championed this approach, citing lower costs associated with less environmentally friendly practices and aiming to establish Pennsylvania as a major hub for AI data centers, leveraging the state's existing fossil fuel infrastructure. He claims credit for significant private investment in data center and energy infrastructure projects.

These actions directly contradict the Biden administration's goal of carbon-free electricity by 2035 and undermine the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives for renewable energy. The Trump administration's policies prioritize the rapid expansion of fossil fuel-based energy production, potentially locking the US into long-term reliance on these sources, despite concerns about climate change and the growing electricity demands of the AI industry. The administration is reportedly working on a rule that would undo the 2009 endangerment finding, allowing the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This includes minimizing public participation requirements for Clean Air Act permits for "minor emitters."

The impact of these policies is potentially significant, hindering the transition to renewable energy and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. While some tech companies have announced commitments to renewable energy sources, their current emissions remain on the rise, indicating a failure to achieve their climate goals. The administration's approach may lead to increased reliance on fossil fuels and further setbacks in climate change mitigation efforts.