AcceleratingFederalPermitting ofDataCenterInfrastructure
ExecutiveOrder#14318
DateIssued:July23,2025
Topic:AI,Energy,EnvironmentalJustice,Technology
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisexecutiveorderdirectsfederalagenciestoofferloans,grants,tax incentives,andothersupportfor“QualifyingProjects,”suchasdatacenters above$500millioninvestment,greaterthan100megawatts(MW)electric load,nationalsecurityrelevance,orspecialdesignation.
TheorderrevokesExecutiveOrder14141(January14,2025)onartificial intelligence(AI)infrastructure,signalingashifttowardamoreaggressive andexpeditedfederalstrategyforAIdevelopment.
Theorderspeedsupenvironmentalreviewsanddirectsagenciestoadopt orcreatenewNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA)categorical exclusionstofast-trackinfrastructuredevelopment,addefficiencyand transparencythroughFAST41,andenableapublictrackingpermitting dashboardwithexpeditedreviewschedules.Federalfinancialassistance representinglessthan50%ofprojectcostsispresumedexemptfrommajor NEPAreview.
Theorderrequiresregulatorymodificationsunderkeyenvironmentallaws (CleanAirAct,CleanWaterAct,theComprehensiveEnvironmental Response,Compensation,andLiabilityAct)andrelevantagenciesto expeditiouslyidentifyBrownfieldSitesandSuperfundSites,including permittingonFederalandnon-FederallandsforusebyQualifyingProjects.
Additionally,theorderspeedsupwaterandwildlifepermitapprovalsby launchinga10-yearplantostreamlinereviewsforcommonconstruction projectsatdesignatedsites.
Within10daysoftheorder,federalagenciesmustidentifyandsubmit theirexistingNEPAcategoricalexclusionstotheCouncilonEnvironmental QualitytohelpexpeditetheconstructionofQualifyingProjects.
Within30daysofaprojectbeingidentifiedbyarelevantagency,the ExecutiveDirectoroftheFederalPermittingImprovementSteeringCouncil maydesignateitasatransparencyprojectandpublishitontheFAST-41 PermittingDashboard,includingascheduleforexpeditedreview.
Within180daysoftheorder:
TheAdministratoroftheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)must issueguidancetoaccelerateenvironmentalreviewsforreusing BrownfieldandSuperfundsites,whilealsoupdatingpermitting regulationsunderkeyenvironmentallaws.
Inthesametimeframe,theArmymustreviewpermitsundertheClean WaterActandRiversandHarborsActtodeterminewhethernew nationwidepermitsareneeded.Additionally,theDepartmentsofthe InteriorandCommercewillconductprogrammaticconsultations undertheEndangeredSpeciesActtostreamlinereviewsforrecurring constructionactivitiestiedtoQualifyingProjects. HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
BrownfieldsandSuperfundsites,manyofwhicharedisproportionately locatedinornearBlackcommunities,arenoweligibleforAIinfrastructure development.Thisshiftcouldelevateenvironmentalrisksifsafeguards arenotstrictlyenforcedorifexpeditedreviewsbypasscommunityinput andoversight.
BylimitingNEPAreviewandstreamliningpermittingprocesses,theorder reducesopportunitiesforpubliccommentandlocalparticipation.Asa result,Blackcommunitiesmaybeleftoutofkeydecisionsthataffecttheir neighborhoods,withlimitedabilitytoinfluenceorchallengepotentially harmfulprojects.
Althoughtheexecutiveorderencourageslarge-scaleinvestment,itdoes notguaranteethatjobcreation,procurementcontracts,orworkforce developmentinitiativeswillreachhistoricallyunderservedBlack communities.Withoutintentionalinclusionmeasures,thesebenefitsmay bypassthosemostinneedofeconomicopportunity.
Communitieslocatednearnewdatacenters,powerplants,or transmissioncorridorsmayfaceincreasedexposuretopollution,landuse conflicts,ordisplacement.Withoutmechanismstoensureequitable distributionofbenefits,thesesamecommunitiesmaynotreceive improvedservices,infrastructureupgrades,oreconomicreturns.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hasledthefightfor environmentaljusticeinCongressforover40years.Theenvironmental justiceobjectivesintheCBCagendaforthe118thCongresswereto “ensureequitableimplementationoftheInfrastructureActandInflation ReductionActwhilealsoadvocatingforincreasedfundingtocreate efficientenergyprojectsandotherprophylacticmeasurestoremediate historicalenvironmentalinjustices.”Thisorderdoesnotacknowledgethe disproportionateimpactofpollutiononBlackcommunities,oneofthe CBC’skeypriorities.
ToreadmoreabouttheCBC’slegacyonenvironmentaljusticeissues,visit Avoice,ourvirtuallibrary.