Infrastructure Fast-Track: US Speeds Permits for Data Centres and Energy Builds; Momentum Rises Amid Oversight Risk - Quarter 3 2025
Case for tracking:
Q3 has seen renewed urgency from the U.S. federal government to accelerate permitting and regulatory reform, especially where AI/data centre infrastructure and power grid expansion are involved. Key moves include the Trump administration negotiating formal agreements with Western states to fast-track environmental permitting for large projects in resource-rich areas (mining, energy, and transmission developments in regions with abundant natural resources like the Mountain West, which are critical for both power generation and raw material supply).
The EPA has also proposed rules that allow certain construction (e.g. non-emissions-related site work) to begin before full Clean Air Act air permits are issued, aiming to reduce delays for data centres, power plants, and other critical infrastructure. These actions reflect growing policy prioritization around building infrastructure faster to meet AI-driven energy demand, even as concerns rise over regulatory oversight, environmental impact, and local/state cooperation.