I’m asking DEQ not to allow data centers to run diesel generators during planned outages. Diesel emissions aren’t a small issue—they’re tied to asthma, heart disease, and increased respiratory distress, especially for children and older adults. If a company knows an outage is coming, it should not default to the dirtiest option because it’s cheaper.

Before expanding diesel use, DEQ should require real-time air-quality monitoring, public reporting, and advance notice to residents. People living near these facilities deserve transparency about what they’re breathing and when. Allowing routine diesel generator use shifts health risks onto nearby communities while letting data centers avoid cleaner alternatives.

Please put the health of Virginia residents first.

Brandon Z