The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is weighing changes aimed at cutting permitting delays tied to new data centers and other industrial development.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency is reviewing Clean Air Act requirements affecting temporary gas turbines and considering greater state flexibility over public notice requirements for certain smaller pollution sources.

The implications extend well beyond data centers. In Ohio, lengthy permitting timelines and overlapping federal requirements can add cost, delay investment and make it harder for companies to expand on schedule.

“Ohio is in a better position than Washington to understand the industries and communities affected by these decisions,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA). “More state flexibility can help cut unnecessary delays without lowering the environmental standards companies are expected to meet.”

OMA will continue tracking the rulemaking and its potential impact on industrial investment in Ohio. 9/10/2026