A group of environmental nonprofits are threatening to sue a data center developer and its energy supplier over two projects on the outskirts of San Antonio, alleging they sidestepped environmental regulations by not obtaining proper permits for its campuses and on-site generation.
The nonprofits said Vantage Data Centers and VoltaGrid, which provides on-site generation for Vantage’s data center campuses, applied for only “minor source” air permits for the sites’ two gas-fired power plants and 151 diesel backup generators.
Because the projects went through the minor source permitting process, they are not subject to public disclosure laws and are not required to use the best available pollution control technology, according to the notice of intent to sue letter sent Wednesday by the Environmental Integrity Project, the Sierra Club and Public Citizen.
“Minor source permits are generally meant for small projects, like mom-and-pop dry cleaners,” said Mary Greene, director of enforcement at the Environmental Integrity Project. “They are not meant for massive projects that can power an entire mid-sized city.”
