PEC president Chris Miller says that information is of limited value. “Without information about how many hours and how many generators are expected to run and where they will be running,” he wrote in response to the update, “we don't have enough information to really understand the impact of this proposal. The regulated emissions [listed in the new variance) are precursors that contribute to regional ozone formation and particulate pollution that affects public health and the broader environment.”

Miller remained skeptical about DEQ’s assertion that it doesn’t anticipate that “any data center will need to use this variance.” He and others have asked why, if that’s the case, the variance is needed — and whether the department has encouraged the industry to seek alternative options, such as reducing operations for a season.