This month, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance clarifying that the Clean Air Act (CAA) Acid Rain Program(ARP) does not apply to power generation facilities that are not connected to a public electricity grid , commonly referred to as “islanded” power generation facilities.
The guidance expands opportunities for companies to develop and operate islanded power generation facilities for data centers
“Ensuring that the United States maintains our artificial intelligence dominance is essential to national security and economic prosperity. At the same time, it is equally important that we safeguard our communities from utility price hikes” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Aaron Szabo
The only reason Superfund was established in the first place is because people like Lois Gibbs and the LCHA had to beg for it. The government had very much turned a blind eye to the initial disaster until people got loud about it.
So unless the whole city basically has to collectively shout outside the fire department every time there’s a fire while most of their home have already burnt down, I can’t say that I do agree with your analogy.
Yes, the government, not the EPA. The EPA didn't have the funding nor legal mandate to tackle such a problem when it was first discovered. It doesn't justify calling them useless.