Energy

EPA aims to speed up decision-making on data centres’ requests for fossil fuel licences

Agency is seeking to halve the amount of time it takes to process applications for industrial emissions licences amid concern large data centres will have to come off the grid and use their own generators

Large data centre operators are applying for special licences to run diesel power generators. Picture: Shutterstock

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is aiming to halve the amount of time it takes to process applications from companies seeking licences to run diesel generators, amid concerns among some data centres that they will have to come off the energy grid.

The Business Post understands that the EPA wants to speed up its decision-making for applications for industrial emissions licences lodged by large companies. The agency currently takes around 18 months on average to ...