GoKawiil
Tech News
Loudoun County, Virginia turned to former AOL infrastructure and empty fiber-optic networks left after the dot-com crash to attract data center investment, led by economic development official Buddy Rizer. The strategy shifted the county's tax base from over 80% residential to just over half commercial revenue, transforming it into a hub handling a large share of global internet traffic.
The EPA is drafting a rule change that would eliminate the requirement for states to collect public feedback before issuing air pollution permits for so-called 'minor source' facilities, a category that includes data centers, landfills, laundromats, and steel mills. The move comes as communities increasingly use public hearings to challenge AI data center construction over air quality and health concerns. Attorneys general from 14 states and three cities have signed a letter opposing the change, arguing that minor sources can still cause serious health and environmental harm.