HB 507

Data center carbon dioxide-emitting backup generators; air monitoring. Limits the allowable use by a data center of certain carbon dioxide-emitting backup generators to only in an emergency, requires a data center to utilize energy storage as its primary backup power source for a minimum of two hours in an emergency, and only allows the use of carbon dioxide-emitting backup generators during grid emergencies after such energy storage resource has been depleted. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Quality to (i) notify all property owners living within one-quarter mile of a data center operating backup generators continuously for more than four hours; (ii) require data center operators to utilize monitoring devices to maintain records of emissions, pollutants, and fuel data and operating parameters as necessary to demonstrate compliance with applicable permits and report the results of such monitoring to the Department on a monthly basis; (iii) establish and maintain an air quality monitoring site or sites within one-quarter mile of any cluster of such backup generators, as defined in the bill, in any jurisdiction with 100 or more such useable backup generators; and (iv) in collaboration with the Department of Health, monitor and assess the cumulative impacts of data center backup generators on human health in jurisdictions where there are at least 100 data center backup generators. Finally, the bill provides that when a permit application is made for a new or modified emissions source that is expected to emit any hazardous air pollutants or toxic air contaminants and the release point for such pollutants or contaminants is located within 3,000 feet of an infant or early childhood daycare, preschool, elementary school, or secondary school, the Department shall notify such schools of such application and make such notice available to the general public.