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
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.