Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 27
17 Groups Urge EPA to Reject Chemours PFAS for Datacenter Cooling
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 27

17 Groups Urge EPA to Reject Chemours PFAS for Datacenter Cooling

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 27

Summary

  • Formal comments from 17 environmental groups asked the EPA to deny Chemours’ fast-tracked Opteon 2P50, arguing the PFAS coolant for datacenters would pose unreasonable health and climate risks.
  • Earthjustice said Chemours downplayed toxicity with flawed science, including rat data less sensitive to PFAS than humans, missing toxicology information and a worker exposure limit developed by the industry-linked Tera group.
  • Chemours countered that two-phase cooling systems are closed-loop and have low fugitive emissions, but advocates said leaks and end-of-life disposal still release f-gas that can form TFA, which Europe this month classified as hazardous.
  • Opteon 2P50 is the first chemical seeking expedited review under Trump’s order prioritizing datacenter chemicals, setting up a potential legal test over whether faster review can override EPA duties under toxic-substances law.

Insights

Are scalable, PFAS-free cooling technologies ready to support the massive energy demands of modern data centers without controversial chemicals?
Could saving water in AI datacenters inadvertently trigger a new wave of toxic forever chemicals in our drinking supply?
If closed-loop cooling systems are truly leak-proof, why are European regulators already classifying their breakdown products as hazardous?