As data center development explodes across the U.S., diesel generator capacity at these facilities has nearly tripled; from an estimated 20 GW to 55 GW between 2018 and 2025. Virginia alone has permitted over 10,000 units with a combined capacity of >27 GW, enough to power 20 million homes.
In this webinar and Q&A session, researchers from the Better Data Center Project, Dr. Catherine Casomar and Dr. John Bangsund, walk through better practices and strategies for limiting harm from diesel generators at data centers — including stronger protections local organizers can push for and specific examples of local ordinances and state legislation.
In This Session
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How diesel generator capacity at data centers has grown, and why current federal and state policy incentivizes rather than restricts its use
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What better practices and stronger local protections look like
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Specific examples of local ordinances and state legislation that are working
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Live Q&A and discussion with the Better Data Center Project team
Resources
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Diesel Generators at Data Centers: Status, Impacts, and Protective Practices — the Better Data Center Project’s full report
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DOE Emergency Order No. 202-26-2, the federal order referenced in the session
Guest Bios
Catherine Casomar
Catherine Casomar is a co-founder of the Better Data Center Project, an organization formed by former federal workers in 2025 to provide technical assistance to communities on the front lines of data center development. She has 15 years of experience in energy and climate and a decade of work advancing equity and justice across sectors. Catherine holds a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Minnesota and a BSE in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.
John Bangsund
John Bangsund is an interdisciplinary research scientist focused on energy, the environment, and health. His experience spans multiple labs and startups, including work on solar cells, rapid pathogen detection, and emissions modeling. Since 2025, he has worked with the Better Data Center Project studying emissions from energy and backup power at data centers. He holds a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Minnesota.
Photo source: ACWA, Flickr.