WASHINGTON, July 15 — A data center in the United States has been operating 59 natural gas turbines without the federal air-quality permit required by law, according to a report from the Environmental Integrity Project. The facility, identified as Colossus 2, uses the turbines to generate backup or primary power. Each turbine is capable of producing 1.5 megawatts of electricity, giving the site a total generation capacity of 88.5 megawatts.
Natural gas turbines of this type are a common choice for data center operators seeking reliable on-site power.
Emissions and the Clean Air Act
The EIP report states that the 59 turbines at Colossus 2 can emit up to 2,500 tons of nitrogen oxides and 1,200 tons of carbon monoxide annually. Under the Clean Air Act, any facility that emits more than 100 tons per year of either pollutant must obtain a Prevention of Significant Deterioration permit from the Environmental Protection Agency or from a delegated state agency such as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The record shows that Colossus 2 did not apply for or receive such a permit.
The EIP report is explicit on this point: no PSD permit was sought or granted for the turbine installation. The EPA holds enforcement authority in these matters.
The agency can compel compliance and impose civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day for each violation. Sources familiar with the regulatory process note that the daily fine can accumulate rapidly when multiple turbines and multiple pollutants are involved.
Regulatory timeline
The timeline of the Colossus 2 turbine installation and its permitting status is now the central question for regulators. The EIP report, which prompted this review, lays out the discrepancy between the facility’s emissions profile and its lack of a PSD permit. The Clean Air Act’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration program is designed to ensure that new major sources of air pollution undergo pre-construction review and install best-available control technology.
Whether the EPA or the MDEQ will initiate an enforcement action remains to be seen. The agency has the statutory authority to act, and the penalty structure provides a significant financial incentive for compliance.
Industry observers will be watching for any formal notice of violation or consent decree in the coming months.
Sources
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