In this Q&A, John Zimmer, A.J. Jablonowski, and Clint Cyr discuss how early environmental planning, objective technical analysis, and proactive engagement can help data center developers identify potential challenges and move projects forward efficiently.
As demand for data centers continues to grow across the country, developers are navigating an increasingly complex mix of environmental, regulatory, and community considerations. Issues related to site suitability, air emissions, sound, natural resources, environmental justice, water consumption, and electricity use can influence everything from facility design to permitting and construction schedules.
Q: HOW CAN EPSILON SUPPORT DATA CENTER DEVELOPERS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT LIFECYCLE?
John Zimmer: Epsilon supports data center developers from initial site selection through permitting, construction, and operation. During the earliest stages of development, we conduct environmental due diligence to identify potential constraints involving wetlands, rare species habitat, cultural resources, air quality, noise-sensitive receptors, and environmental justice communities. This information helps developers assess site suitability and make informed decisions before advancing design.
As a project moves forward, our subject-matter experts perform field studies, technical analyses, and environmental modeling to help minimize potential impacts and inform facility design. We also develop regulatory strategies, prepare environmental permit applications, and coordinate with federal and state agencies.
Following approval, Epsilon can support construction through NPDES permitting, stormwater pollution prevention planning, environmental oversight, and compliance monitoring. Our services can continue into operation with permit closeout, post-construction air and sound surveys, compliance reporting, and mitigation monitoring.
We understand that speed to market is a critical consideration for data center development. By identifying environmental risks early and coordinating technical studies with the project schedule, we help clients approach permitting in a practical, cost-conscious, and schedule-driven manner.
Q: WHICH ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERMITTING ISSUES HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO AFFECT DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT?
John Zimmer: For nearly 30 years, Epsilon has helped energy-sector clients evaluate environmental factors that can influence project design, permitting, and schedule. Our experience includes natural gas pipelines, electric transmission facilities, onshore and offshore wind projects, solar facilities, battery energy storage systems, and data centers.
Many familiar environmental concerns, including wetlands, rare species habitat, air emissions, and noise, remain important to data center development. At the same time, issues such as environmental justice, water consumption, and electricity use are receiving increased attention.
Our role is not only to identify these concerns but also to determine which issues present the greatest risk to a particular project. We then work with the development team to establish practical strategies for addressing them through site planning, facility design, technical analysis, permitting, and regulatory review.
Q: HOW CAN ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE SUPPORT SITE SELECTTION AND HELP MINIMIZE COMMUNITY CONCERNS?
John Zimmer: Site selection is one of the earliest and most consequential opportunities to reduce environmental and community risk. Evaluating wetlands, wildlife habitat, cultural resources, nearby residences, environmental justice communities, and other sensitive receptors can help a developer understand a site’s constraints before making significant design and investment decisions.
Early due diligence can also inform decisions about facility layout, equipment placement, access, utilities, and potential mitigation measures. When technical findings are incorporated into the design from the beginning, developers are better positioned to explain how potential impacts were considered and how community concerns are being addressed.
While every project and community is different, thoughtful site selection, objective analysis, and transparent communication can help establish a more informed and productive dialogue with residents and local officials.
Q: WHAT AIR QUALITY CONSIDERATIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DATA CENTERS?
A.J. Jablonowski: In many respects, a data center can present air permitting considerations similar to those associated with a power generation project. Some facilities include dedicated on-site generation, while facilities connected to the electric grid still require emergency backup generators.
Air permitting requirements can range from state and local requirements for emergency engines to federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration major-source requirements. Epsilon evaluates Best Available Control Technology requirements, performs air quality dispersion modeling, and works with state regulators, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Land Managers when applicable.
Our engineers also coordinate with equipment suppliers to obtain the design information needed for permitting. We work with clients to align proposed operating scenarios with permitting requirements and help ensure that equipment emissions guarantees are consistent with permit limits and compliance obligations.
Q: HOW CAN DEVELOPERS COMMUNICATE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS TO COMMUNITITES?
A.J. Jablonowski: Data center projects may be held to a high standard for public outreach, particularly when community members have questions about air emissions and public health.
Epsilon’s senior staff, including public health specialists, can explain technical findings and place anticipated impacts into an understandable context. We can also help document how mitigation measures may provide community benefits and support developers in communicating clearly and consistently with residents, local officials, and regulatory agencies.
Q: NOISE IS FREQUENTLY RAISED AS A CONCERN. HOW SHOULD DEVELOPERS ADDRESS IT?
Clint Cyr: Noise is often one of the primary concerns raised when a new data center is proposed. The most effective approach is to address the issue early using objective, project-specific information.
Ideally, an acoustical due diligence study should be completed before formal community discussions begin. This study typically includes measurements of existing sound levels and preliminary predictive modeling of the proposed facility. The results allow the project team to evaluate equipment and facility design, establish appropriate sound-level goals, and identify potential mitigation measures.
Community meetings can then give residents and local officials an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from acoustical specialists about how sound is being evaluated and managed. These conversations also allow the development team to better understand site-specific concerns that may not have been apparent during the initial planning process.
Transparent communication supported by technical analysis can help build trust and establish realistic expectations for both the developer and the community.
Q: WHAT ACOUSTICAL SERVICES DOES EPSILON PROVIDE FOR DATA CENTERS?
Clint Cyr: Epsilon provides acoustical consulting throughout the data center development process, from early site due diligence and permitting through post-construction compliance testing.
Our services include background sound measurements, acoustical risk assessments, screening-level and detailed predictive modeling, near-field equipment measurements, and mitigation evaluations. We work closely with developers and design teams to identify potential concerns early, evaluate design alternatives, support permitting, and participate as subject-matter experts during community outreach.
Once a facility is operational, we can perform compliance testing and diagnostic assessments to investigate and address acoustical concerns. We also prepare concise technical reports that clearly communicate findings to project teams, regulators, and other stakeholders.
Q: DOES EPSILON SUPPORT PROJECTS ACROSS DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES?
A.J. Jablonowski: Epsilon has energy project experience in 35 states, including jurisdictions where local agencies have authority. Because many underlying air quality requirements are federal, our experience working through complex issues with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can also be applied across different regulatory settings. This combination of federal, state, and local experience allows us to adapt our approach to the specific requirements of a project and its location.
Successful data center development requires more than responding to environmental concerns as they arise. It requires identifying potential constraints early, integrating technical findings into facility design, and communicating clearly with regulators and communities. With coordinated expertise in environmental due diligence, permitting, air quality, acoustics, natural resources, cultural resources, and stakeholder engagement, Epsilon helps developers address these considerations throughout the project lifecycle.
About the Experts
A.J. Jablonowski, Principal is Epsilon’s Air Quality Group Manager. He has experience with a variety of industries, including power production, surface coating, chemical production, waste treatment, metalworking, electronics, food processing, and groundwater treatment. AJ’s work includes environmental licensing, compliance and due diligence audits, air permit applications, pollution control studies, accidental release prevention, and regulatory applicability studies. He reviews operations at a variety of industrial and power facilities and recommends process changes for regulatory compliance. He uses strong technical engineering skills and an ability to grasp regulatory nuances as part of his problem-solving approach. He acts as a technical resource for air pollution capture and control options, emissions tracking, and air regulatory interpretations.
John Zimmer, Principal of Epsilon’s Energy Practice has over 26 years of experience primarily on energy related projects including the licensing and permitting of natural gas pipelines and electric transmission facilities throughout the Northeast. He is responsible for the preparation of federal, state, and local permit/license applications and coordination and management of field studies including wetland delineation and rare species surveys. He is also regularly involved with regulatory/resource agency consultation, corridor/route selection, environmental inventory and assessment, post-construction monitoring, EIR/EIS preparation, wetland and rare species mitigation planning, public participation, and construction compliance management and inspection. He has successfully managed a wide range of projects ranging from linear energy facilities to large-scale residential and commercial developments.
Clint Cyr is a Lead Engineer in the Acoustics Group at Epsilon with expertise in environmental impact assessments and noise control. He is Board Certified by the Institute of Noise Control Engineering, a licensed Professional Engineer, and holds a master’s degree in Acoustics. At Epsilon, he helps developers successfully site and permit a wide variety of projects, including industrial-scale wind farms, electrical substations, data centers, cogeneration facilities, battery storage systems, and commercial developments. Clint has honed his skills through years of experience conducting on-site measurement programs, generating acoustic models and mitigation analyses, and performing feasibility studies for a diverse range of industries across the United States. He conducts sound level compliance tests and stands as the acoustical subject matter expert at hearings and community engagement events.