As we prepare for the upcoming Air & Waste Management Association (AWMA) conference, we’re pleased to share that our team will be presenting on a topic that continues to grow in importance across the industrial and technology sectors: environmental permitting challenges for data center development.
The following SCS Team Members will lead this session:
Data centers are critical infrastructure supporting today’s digital economy, yet their development often involves a complex and evolving regulatory landscape. Key considerations include air permitting for backup generators, stormwater and wastewater management requirements, and compliance with local land use and noise ordinances. Addressing these issues early—and in coordination with regulators and project stakeholders—can significantly reduce permitting risk and schedule impacts.
Our AWMA presentation will focus on practical, real-world considerations for navigating these challenges, including how early planning, thoughtful permit strategy, and proactive agency engagement can help streamline approvals and manage compliance risk. We’ll also discuss emerging trends and common permitting issues that data center developers and consultants are encountering across jurisdictions.
Following the conference, we’ll share a post-conference blog highlighting key takeaways, emerging trends, and insights from the discussion.
Advancing solutions to the environmental challenges of data centers
Already numbering over 5000 and growing rapidly, US data centers house vast concentrations of networked computer servers supporting data science, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and our overall use of the internet. Major environmental concerns include direct emissions of air pollutants from routine and emergency power generation, cooling systems, noise, increased water use, zoning issues, waste management, energy transmission, and new power plant construction. States and local agencies seek to reduce local impacts and resolve land-use conflicts while still promoting economic development.
The Dulles Technology Corridor or “Data Center Alley” in northern Virginia is one of the world’s leading data center markets, with over 25 million square feet of data center operations that handle an estimated 70% of the world’s internet traffic — and is the perfect place to hold our first conference on this emerging topic.
Discover technical pathways to more efficient, lower-impact data centers.
The technical program will focus on efforts to reduce adverse environmental and public health impacts of data centers and improve data center sustainability and energy efficiency. Environmental professionals, consultants, local and state managers, and researchers should attend to discover new solutions to reduce the environmental burden of this challenging industry.
SCS Engineers Presents Navigating Environmental Permitting Challenges for Data Center Development
Data center projects face a range of environmental permitting challenges that demand early coordination among developers, consultants, and regulatory agencies. Key factors include air permits for backup generators, stormwater and wastewater management, and compliance with local land use and noise requirements. Through proactive planning and ongoing engagement with regulators, project teams can deliver timely, compliant, and environmentally responsible results. Presenters include, John Tsun, David Greene, and Sean Gordon.
Register with A&WMA: https://www.awma.org/datacentersregistration
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