--- title: "Data center growth could cause 1,300 premature deaths, report says" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/health/data-center-growth-could-cause-1300-premature-deaths-report-says" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/data-center-growth-could-cause-1300-premature-deaths-report-says" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/health/data-center-growth-could-cause-1300-premature-deaths-report-says.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/data-center-growth-could-cause-1300-premature-deaths-report-says" category: "Health" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-13T01:25:16.472Z" source_reported: "2026-09-12T14:41:27.000Z" updated: "2026-09-13T01:25:16.472Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 28 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-13T03:30:17.504105+00:00" --- # Data center growth could cause 1,300 premature deaths, report says *Former EPA officials warn of health risks from weakened pollution safeguards* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Multiple named sources and the EPN report provide specific figures, earning high trust. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Clear explanation of health stakes, quoted officials, and precise data give strong journalistic craft. - Hype 28 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are sensational but article content remains measured and factual. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A report by the Environmental Protection Network (EPN) details at least 30 federal actions since January 2025 that may increase pollution-related health risks. - Seventeen of these actions explicitly target AI or data centers, while others affect how these facilities are powered or permitted. - The EPN report projects that data center electricity demand could lead to approximately 600,000 asthma symptom cases and 1,300 premature deaths annually by 2028. - The report also estimates these health impacts could result in over $20 billion in annual public health costs. A report from the Environmental Protection Network (EPN), an organisation of former EPA staffers, states that at least 30 federal actions since January 2025 could increase pollution-related health risks. Seventeen of these actions directly address AI or data centers, while the remaining 13 concern how data centers are powered, pollution safeguards, project approvals, or enforcement of federal requirements. The EPN report was published on 10 September 2026. The report projects that the electricity demand from data centers could lead to about 600,000 asthma symptom cases and 1,300 premature deaths annually by 2028. These health impacts are estimated to cause more than $20 billion in annual public health costs. The EPN states that these figures do not account for the potential health effects of the federal policy changes it documents. The EPN report highlights specific federal actions, including a policy that has made it easier for some idled facilities to restart without major air-permitting requirements. It also notes a proposed elimination of federal carbon pollution standards for some fossil-fueled power plants and extended deadlines for coal-plant wastewater requirements. The US Department of Energy has authorised grid use of backup generation at data centers during emergencies, and the Army Corps of Engineers has named data centers as examples for a streamlined water permit. ## Disagreement on the EPA's role Common Dreams reported that the Trump administration is weakening or proposing to weaken pollution and permitting safeguards for data centers, to the detriment of public health. It stated that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has made turning the US into the 'AI capital of the world' a pillar of EPA's work. The Verge reported that Trump is giving data centers a pass to pollute by weakening environmental regulations to speed up construction. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran this story. The full reports from Common Dreams and Business Report did not include polling data on public opinion regarding data center development or the EPA's role, which was mentioned in the Common Dreams full report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 67% (4) - Centre: 33% (2) - Right: 0% (0) 2 of 8 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-13T03:30:17.504105+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 11 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-13T04:00:12.482Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports focused on the Trump administration's actions and their impact on public health. Common Dreams highlighted that the administration is weakening pollution and permitting safeguards for data centers, directly linking this to public health detriment. The Verge stated that Trump is giving data centers a pass to pollute by weakening regulations to speed up construction. Inside Climate News reported that former EPA officials warn of dangers from fossil fuel expansion and federal carveouts for the AI industry. Louisiana Illuminator also reported former federal environmental officials sounding an alarm about potential health impacts from data center pollution and a breakdown in oversight. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports highlighted warnings from former EPA officials about health risks associated with the data center surge. Business Report stated that a group representing former EPA employees is warning that the rapid expansion of US data centers could worsen air pollution and public health risks, particularly as the Trump administration rolls back environmental regulations. KTBS reported that former federal environmental officials are sounding an alarm in a new report about potential health impacts from data center pollution amidst what they see as a breakdown in oversight. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - unknown: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Verge](https://theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/994112/ai-data-center-pollution-health-epa) — Trump is giving data centers a pass to pollute - [eponline.com](https://eponline.com/articles/2026/09/11/rapid-expansion-of-data-centers-raises-public-health-concerns.aspx) — Rapid Expansion of Data Centers Raises Public Health Concerns - [Inside Climate News](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/11092026/data-center-boom-fossil-fuel-expansion-health-hazards) — Data Center Boom Brings Health Hazards, Former EPA Officials Warn - [Common Dreams](https://commondreams.org/news/data-center-health-risks) — Trump EPA Accused of Endangering Public as Study Highlights 'Hidden Health Costs' of Data Centers - [KTBS](https://ktbs.com/news/louisiana/former-epa-officials-warn-of-health-risks-from-data-center-pollution/article_85cda240-87cf-52bc-8d78-571dbcab7e8e.html) — Former EPA officials warn of health risks from data center pollution - [Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/09/10/former-epa-officials-warn-of-health-risks-from-data-center-pollution) — Former EPA officials warn of health risks from data center pollution - [Business Report](https://businessreport.com/article/former-epa-officials-warn-of-health-risks-from-us-data-center-surge) — Former EPA officials warn of health risks from US data center surge - [environmentalprotectionnetwork.org](https://environmentalprotectionnetwork.org/new-report-ai-data-center-boom-poses-growing-health-risks-as-epa-other-federal-agencies-weaken-protections-against-harmful-pollution) — New Report: AI Data Center Boom Poses Growing Health Risks as EPA & Other Federal Agencies Weaken Protections Against Harmful Pollution ## Questions **What are the main health concerns raised by the EPN report?** The Environmental Protection Network report projects that data center electricity demand could lead to approximately 600,000 asthma symptom cases and 1,300 premature deaths annually by 2028. It also estimates these health impacts could result in over $20 billion in annual public health costs. **What federal actions are cited as potentially increasing health risks?** The report documents at least 30 federal actions since January 2025 that could increase pollution-related health risks. These include policies making it easier for idled facilities to restart without major air-permitting requirements, proposed elimination of carbon pollution standards, and authorisation of backup generator use during emergencies. **Which government agencies are mentioned in relation to data center policies?** The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is central to the report's findings regarding weakened safeguards. The US Department of Energy is noted for authorising grid use of backup generation, and the Army Corps of Engineers is mentioned for a streamlined water permit that names data centers as examples. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/health/data-center-growth-could-cause-1300-premature-deaths-report-says. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Data center growth could cause 1,300 premature deaths, report says", https://mediabias.news/health/data-center-growth-could-cause-1300-premature-deaths-report-says