Across the United States, the rush to expand artificial intelligence is driving a rapid buildout of natural-gas power plants designed specifically to serve data centers, often before nearby residents realize the projects are advancing. International Business Times has brought new scrutiny to the speed of this permitting process, revealing that developers are frequently securing approvals at an unusually fast pace while avoiding the environmental reviews and public hearings that major power projects typically face.

At least 57 off-grid data center power plants, either proposed or already under construction nationwide, would have a combined capacity of approximately 73,000 megawatts, with most powered by natural gas. Permitting timelines have compressed dramatically, and in several cases, projects have avoided traditional regulatory oversight altogether. Turbines serving xAI's Colossus campus in Tennessee and Mississippi operated without permits, with the company claiming the units were temporary installations.

In northwest Ohio, Meta is constructing an 800-acre data center near Bowling Green. The related power plant initially appeared in public filings under Liames LLC, despite being financed by Meta. Construction had already begun before the draft air permit was made public, leaving residents with minimal opportunity for input.

Several states have streamlined approval pathways for these projects. Ohio passed provisions restricting public access to certain records tied to data centers, while West Virginia carved out local zoning exemptions for some data center microgrids.

The environmental implications are significant. Natural gas plants release nitrogen oxides and fine particulate pollution, both linked to respiratory illness. Michael Cork, a researcher at Harvard University, described the buildout as potentially "one of the largest under-examined air-quality risks in the country." The acceleration reflects AI's growing energy demands—training and operating advanced AI systems requires massive amounts of electricity.

Residents and local officials have expressed deep concern. Brian Rothenberg, a township trustee near Columbus, stated: "My biggest concern is health and security. I don't want my constituents to be lab rats if something goes wrong." A Bowling Green resident named Kidd added: "For my family and my daycare families, their safety is my number one priority. I feel like right now I can't guarantee that."

Industry groups, including the Data Center Coalition—whose members include Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft—contend that developers are attempting to move responsibly while securing necessary energy supplies. However, the speed and opacity of permitting processes suggest that transparency and meaningful community input remain compromised.