Environmental Groups contest San Antonio data centers' air pollution. Three environmental groups sent two San Antonio data centers a notice of intent to sue for failing to secure permits as major air polluters. Two data centers in San Antonio face a looming legal challenge from environmental groups over their air pollution. The nonprofits Environmental Integrity Project, Sierra Club and Public Citizen sent a notice that it intends to sue within 60 days to Vantage Data Centers and VoltaGrid LLC on Wednesday, claiming they are circumventing federal enforcement. The letter alleged the companies built diesel generators and natural gas power plants without the proper permits. The groups said the data centers improperly registered as "minor" air polluters under the Clean Air Act, requiring less scrutiny than if they had applied for "major source" permits. The Environmental Integrity Project concluded in early July multiple data centers across the country have followed the same strategy. Mary Greene, the group's enforcement director, said the two Texas data centers are circumventing the Clean Air Act and threatening San Antonio residents' health. "There is no way that anyone could characterize this as a small project. These are massive projects," said Greene, noting that they operate in residential areas. "They should have sought a permit that required pollution controls, that required other limits like hours of operation and monitoring and reporting to demonstrate compliance with those requirements." Before building a major source of new air pollution, companies typically have to obtain a major air permit, a process that includes public meetings, regulatory review and emission monitoring. But the data centers - on Omicron Drive and Rogers Road - obtained minor air permits, which are more typically used for stores like dry cleaners and small facilities. Those do not include enforcement mechanisms or an opportunity for the public to weigh in. The data centers could collectively generate enough energy to power Richmond, Virginia, according to the letter. Mark Freeman, a spokesman for Vantage Data Centers, acknowledged the notice and said the company aims to be a "responsible neighbor." "We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are committed to operating in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations," Freeman wrote in an email. "While we do not comment on pending legal matters, we have worked closely with the appropriate regulatory agencies throughout the development of these projects and will review the allegations set forth in the notice." VoltaGrid did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Wayne D'Angelo, co-chair of the law firm Kelley Drye & Warren's environmental law practice, said most data centers with power generation likely require major air permits. "If they have a turbine, they're making their own power," said D'Angelo, who is not involved in the planned lawsuit. "And my understanding is that a lot of those would probably trigger as major." The 60-day notice of intent to sue is a prerequisite for filing a lawsuit under the Clean Air Act. In the notice, the groups accuse the data centers of taking a "piecemeal approach to Clean Air Act permitting to fast-track these projects." The data centers applied for permits for the power generation and data centers separately, even though they are located on the same site. "If they're treating these individual units separately so that they don't trigger that major-source threshold, I think the short answer is they can't," D'Angelo said. "I mean, there'll be multiple generators at a facility, and those are all going to be part of the same project." David Spence, chair in natural resources law at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law, said data centers with gas-powered turbines almost certainly meet the threshold for requiring major air permits. "Unless it's operating at a very low capacity factor, it's probably going to be a major source," said Spence, who is also not involved in the planned lawsuit. "I don't know how you could piecemeal that." The environmental groups' legal challenge comes a week after Floodlight, a nonprofit climate-focused newsroom, reported that Texas regulators have granted minor air pollution permits to dozens of data centers. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality told Floodlight: "TCEQ only issues air permits that comply with applicable state and federal air permitting rules and regulations including applicable public participation requirements." TCEQ did not respond to Inside Climate News' requests for comment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency did not comment beyond noting that it is not a party in the planned lawsuit. The Trump administration wants to accelerate data centers' permitting processes, including through an executive order last summer. Greene, with the Environmental Integrity Project, said the minor air permits are merely "permits on paper" because they lack enforceability. "The permit requires no pollution controls," Greene said. "They require no limits on the hours of operation. They do not require monitoring. They do not require reporting, and they provided no notice or opportunity to the public to be heard on their thoughts about these centers coming into their neighborhood and polluting the air that they breathe." According to the environmental groups' letter, the data centers have the potential to release high amounts of lung-damaging nitrogen dioxide, the climate pollutant carbon dioxide and cancer-causing formaldehyde. The Clean Air Act considers emission potential when deciding permitting and enforcement measures. For Millie White, who lives in a San Antonio suburb and is opposed to data centers, the risk of air pollution is concerning. "We're living in a big hazy mess that we just can't see because it's all invisible to our eyes, but I'm sure if we were to see everything that this was emitting, we would be appalled and want to shut it down immediately," White said. Spence, the University of Texas at Austin professor, said air pollution rules were designed to keep pollutants at safe levels - "safe enough to protect the public health." "Circumventing Clean Air Act rules, of course, poses the risk that that goal won't be achieved, so I can understand why locals would be worried," Spence said. John Carroll III, an environmental compliance specialist whose clients include energy and fossil fuel companies, said as data centers have grown, the conversation surrounding their regulation has changed. "These are getting so large, environmental groups are looking at them differently than they were five years ago," Carroll said. "This is definitely going to become a larger, broader national argument over the next few years." This story was updated July 22, 2026, with a comment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Sierra Club joins the Santa Monica Great Park Coalition. Published: June 19, 2026, 2:04 pm The Sierra Club has joined the Santa Monica Great Park Coalition, adding the nation's largest environmental organization to a growing alliance pushing to convert Santa Monica Airport into a public park when it closes Dec. 31, 2028. The coalition, founded two years ago, advocates for converting the 192-acre airport site into a Great Park consistent with Measure LC, a 2014 ballot measure voters approved that limits use of the land to parks, recreation and related purposes. "The Sierra Club's decision to join the coalition is both deeply meaningful and tremendously energizing because of the environmental leadership and values the organization has represented for generations," said John Fairweather, president of the Great Park Coalition. The coalition now includes more than 85 organizations and 1,100 individual supporters spanning environmental, arts, education, sports, recreation and neighborhood groups. David Haake, chair of the Sierra Club's West Los Angeles Group of the Angeles Chapter, said the organization studied the Santa Monica airport situation in depth before joining, noting the club's general support for urban infill housing and affordability. "Santa Monica has a low rate of parks per population, and only 3% of its land is dedicated to parks," Haake said. "More than 75% of its housing is multi-family, of which more than half is rent-controlled." Haake said the club believes a Great Park would complement rather than undercut the city's housing commitments in nearby transit-accessible locations. Santa Monica has been a leader in affordable housing construction, outpacing much of Los Angeles County, and has invested heavily in transit and bicycle infrastructure, according to the coalition. 1 comments. Joseph 2 days ago This is great news, which combined with $10.5 million in grants for the park, show that the Great Park will be created upon closure of the airport.

ACT Expo: future of clean trucks on display, but progress is still far too slow. This May, Sierra Club staff and volunteers traveled to Las Vegas for the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, one of the largest gatherings of truck manufacturers, charging companies, fleet operators, and clean transportation advocates in the country. Walking the expo floor offered a glimpse into what a zero-emission future could look like, but it also underscored how much work remains to be done to get there. Sierra Club Group had several Clean Transportation for All staffers attend the Expo this year, including Eric Willadsen coming in from Boise, Idaho and Jennifer Cardenas from Southern California alongside several key transportation volunteers from California as well. Its Las Vegas Chapter Director, Olivia Tanager, also attended and spoke at a press conference hosted outside the Expo with some of its partners from Mom's Clean Air Force and Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition. On the Convention floor. The ACT Expo featured electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks, electric school buses, charging infrastructure, software solutions, and even vehicle components that have now been fully electrified. Compared to just a few years ago, the technology has advanced significantly, and many companies are proving that the transition away from diesel is not only possible, but already underway. Sierra Club Group were particularly encouraged by conversations with smaller companies and innovators that are fully committed to a zero-emission future. Charging providers showcased a variety of solutions designed to meet different fleet needs, while manufacturers highlighted the growing availability of electric vehicles across multiple sectors. These companies are helping demonstrate that the barriers to electrification are shrinking every year. Its volunteer leader, Dalinef Leon, was especially impressed by conversations with the electric school bus manufacturer RIDE. The company representatives stressed there is no excuse not to electrify, especially for students in frontline communities. Sierra Club Group agree! There is no good reason Sierra Club Group should continue to expose children to harmful diesel pollution when clean, electric alternatives are readily available. The technology exists. What is needed now is the political will and investment to ensure these vehicles reach the communities that need them most. The Bad At the same time, several troubling trends persisted. It was disappointing to see some manufacturers promoting propane school buses as a "clean" transportation solution. While propane may emit less pollution than diesel in some cases, it is still a fossil fuel and falls far short of the truly zero-emission solutions that students deserve. Seeing fossil-fuel-powered vehicles receive attention at an event focused on clean transportation is concerning and a step backwards. Getting its message out. Its press conference outside the Convention Center delivered a simple message: Communities need more than flashy displays and promises; they need clean trucks on the road now. Sierra Club Group called out the hypocrisy of truck manufacturers that tout their zero-emission vehicles at events like ACT Expo while lobbying against the very standards that would help deploy them at scale. With the Expo taking place in Las Vegas, speakers highlighted the real-world impacts of truck pollution in Nevada and the urgent need for cleaner transportation. Families in Nevada and across the country are already facing asthma, dirty air, and worsening extreme heat fueled by vehicle pollution, and they cannot afford more delays. Just outside the Expo, on a key route to the Convention Center, Sierra Club Group sponsored a billboard calling attention to the health consequences of truck pollution and urging truckmakers to match their clean truck promises with action. Beyond greenwashing. The biggest contradiction at ACT Expo was the gap between what many truck manufacturers say publicly and what they do behind closed doors. On the convention floor, companies proudly displayed electric trucks and highlighted their commitments to innovation and sustainability. Yet many of these same manufacturers continue lobbying against state and federal clean truck standards that would help put these vehicles on the road. If truckmakers truly believe in the trucks they showcased in Las Vegas, they should support the policies necessary to accelerate adoption of them. Voluntary commitments and marketing campaigns are not enough. Strong clean truck standards create certainty for manufacturers, fleets, workers, and communities while helping reduce harmful air pollution and climate emissions. ACT Expo showed that the technology is here. Electric trucks, buses, and charging infrastructure are no longer just far-off concepts; they are ready for deployment. But technology alone will not deliver cleaner air and a safer climate. Until manufacturers stop undermining the very policies that make widespread adoption possible, progress will continue to fall short of what communities need and what the climate crisis demands. The Sierra Club's Clean Transportation for All campaign is working to ensure that Sierra Club Group all benefit from a 21st-century clean transportation system with 100% zero-emission cars, trucks, and buses; improved access to public transit; and strong policies that reduce driving and promote safe walking and biking.