Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure Executive Order #14318
Date Issued: July 23, 2025 Topic: AI, Energy, Environmental Justice, Technology
WHAT DOES THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER DO? This executive order directs federal agencies to offer loans, grants, tax incentives, and other support for “Qualifying Projects,” such as data centers above $500 million investment, greater than 100 megawatts (MW) electric load, national security relevance, or special designation. The order revokes Executive Order 14141 (January 14, 2025) on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, signaling a shift toward a more aggressive and expedited federal strategy for AI development. The order speeds up environmental reviews and directs agencies to adopt or create new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) categorical exclusions to fast-track infrastructure development, add efficiency and transparency through FAST‑41, and enable a public tracking permitting dashboard with expedited review schedules. Federal financial assistance representing less than 50% of project costs is presumed exempt from major NEPA review. The order requires regulatory modifications under key environmental laws (Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act) and relevant agencies to expeditiously identify Brownfield Sites and Superfund Sites, including permitting on Federal and non-Federal lands for use by Qualifying Projects. Additionally, the order speeds up water and wildlife permit approvals by launching a 10-year plan to streamline reviews for common construction projects at designated sites.
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