I strongly oppose the proposal to allow data centers to run generators during anything but a suddenly or reasonably unforeseen event. The data centers already approved in VA and those in the works will have upwards of 500 diesel generators per campus that are not even required to be tier IV equivalent. Allowing operators the freedom to select when they want to run those will certainly lead to increases in particulate and NOx pollution and increase the number of poor air quality days near communities in VA. Just look at the air quality data for Loudon County versus the quality for areas outside of Richmond. Arguably similarly located communities outside of major cities, but the number of poor air quality days around Richmond has decreased over the past 5 years, while the number of poor air quality days in Loudon has increased. Correlation is not causation, but only one of those communities is also a hub for data center development and only one of them has hundreds and possibly thousands of diesel generators supporting millions of square feet of heavy industrial development. Relaxing protections for communities around diesel generator use is a bad choice that puts developers and corporations over public health and wellbeing and is entirely contrary to the mission of DEQ protect and enhance the environment of Virginia and its vision of “better air quality” for all Virginians.