With data center infrastructure and permit modernization emerging as top focus areas for the E-Enterprise for the Environment Leadership Council (EELC) in 2026, these priorities took center stage during the December 2025 meeting. Members engaged in discussions of data center permitting trends and improved community engagement, as well as progress on state and federal permitting dashboards and other transparency initiatives.
EELC members were joined by a representative of the Washington, DC-based Data Center Coalition, who described the accelerating demand for data storage, power capacity, and related infrastructure, as well as the data center sector’s economic footprint and regional differences in sector demand. EELC State Member Mike Rolband, Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, highlighted the success of existing regulations in curbing adverse environmental impacts related to air and water, as well as the ongoing challenges of communicating these successes to the public and preparing for emergencies. Virginia currently stands as the country’s largest data center market. These presentations kicked off a dialogue on ways members can work together to educate both developers and the public and improve public understanding of the reality of the environmental impacts of data centers.
In another session, members explored permit dashboards and associated transparency initiatives. EPA’s Office of Water described the evolution of its Underground Injection Control Class VI permit tracker – which now includes stage-based tracking, filters, downloadable metrics, and links to application materials – and offered to share common tools and templates with states interested in developing their own dashboards. Virginia highlighted its efforts to reduce permit processing times using clear schedules, the Permitting Enhancement and Evaluation Platform (PEEP), and other project management tools. The Permitting Council provided an overview of two initiatives to streamline federal permitting: FAST-41 and the Permitting Dashboard for Federal Infrastructure Projects. EELC members then exchanged perspectives on the importance of fostering a culture of accountability in order to ensure the success of these permit modernization efforts.
In the spirit of the EELC’s mission to jointly develop and share practical solutions, EPA, states and Tribes committed to sharing resources, expertise, and lessons learned to support agencies in regulating data center infrastructure and pursuing permit modernization efforts.
