# US datacenter environmental and energy regulation disputes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-datacenter-environmental-and-energy-regulation-disputes > Updated: 2026-10-22T13:31:09.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. Environmental advocates and legal groups have accused datacenter developers of using regulatory maneuvers to bypass air pollution and energy oversight. Critics allege that some companies avoid “major” federal reviews by dividing emissions sources into multiple “minor” sources, a practice described by a former EPA official as “lego permitting.” Specific allegations involve Amazon and Duke Energy in North Carolina, Project Jupiter in New Mexico, and various facilities in Maryland. In South Carolina, the Southern Environmental Law Center has petitioned regulators to reconsider decisions that allow large private power plants to be built without oversight under the state’s Siting Act. In response to the rapid expansion of these facilities, the Model Climate Laws Initiative has released a legislative package containing model state and local laws to help governments manage demands on electricity grids, water, and land. Concurrently, local officials in Texas are advocating for increased regulatory control and the reconsideration of business incentives to protect municipal interests. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-22: Model laws proposed to manage data center energy and environmental impacts New model laws aim to help governments manage the energy and environmental strain of data centers, while Texas officials advocate for local regulatory control over development. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/model-laws-proposed-to-manage-data-center-energy-and-environmental-impacts ### 2026-09-27: Datacenter developers accused of bypassing pollution and energy regulations Datacenter developers are accused of using “lego permitting” and regulatory loopholes to bypass EPA pollution controls and state energy oversight in several U.S. states. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/datacenter-developers-accused-of-bypassing-pollution-and-energy-regulations --- Cite as: US datacenter environmental and energy regulation disputes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-datacenter-environmental-and-energy-regulation-disputes