Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure
Directs expedited permitting for data center construction on federal land and near federal power facilities, reflecting the surge in computing demand driven by AI. Revokes EO 14141 (January 14, 2025, Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure).
Section by Section
What each section does, and how they differ.
Expedites permitting for data center projects to support AI and computing infrastructure development.
Defines a Qualifying Project as one meeting any of: at least 500 million dollars in committed capital expenditures; an incremental electric load addition greater than 100 MW; national-security relevance; or designation by the Secretary of Defense, Interior, Commerce, or Energy.
Directs Commerce, with OSTP, to launch an initiative providing financial support for Qualifying Projects, including loans, loan guarantees, grants, tax incentives, and offtake agreements.
Revokes EO 14141 of January 14, 2025 (Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure).
Directs agencies to identify and establish new NEPA categorical exclusions for Qualifying Projects and clarifies when federal financial assistance is not a major federal action.
Authorizes the FPISC Executive Director to designate Qualifying Projects as transparency projects and transition them to FAST-41 covered projects for expedited review.
Directs EPA to modify environmental regulations to expedite permitting and to identify Brownfield and Superfund sites suitable for data center use.
Requires programmatic Endangered Species Act consultation for common construction activities and directs the Army Corps to review nationwide permits for efficiency.