- A coalition of 17 environmental groups demands the EPA reject Chemours' new Pfas chemical, Opteon 2P50, for data center cooling due to potential toxicity and climate risks.
- Groups accuse Chemours of using flawed science to downplay the chemical's hazards and violating the law, with Earthjustice leading the formal comments.
- Big tech faces opposition over data centers' water use, but two-phase cooling systems replace water with Pfas 'forever chemicals' without public disclosure.
- Opteon 2P50 is likely more toxic and climate-damaging than claimed, and is the first chemical fast-tracked under Trump's executive order for data center chemicals.
- Pfas compounds accumulate in the body and environment, linked to serious health issues like cancer and liver disease, and are used as refrigerants in closed-loop systems.
- Chemours argues the systems are closed-loop with low emissions, but critics highlight leaks and eventual disposal issues.
- F-gas emissions convert to TFA, a hazardous Pfas compound globally, but not classified by US EPA; recent studies show higher toxicity.
- Earthjustice warns EPA must prioritize health risks over Trump's executive order, which should not mean automatic approval.
- Comments allege Chemours' safety data is flawed, relying on less-affected lab rats and a biased industry-funded group, Tera, for exposure limits.
- Environmental groups point to Chemours' history of pollution and widespread Pfas contamination, arguing approval could violate toxic chemical laws.
- Chemours dismisses criticisms as 'sweeping generalizations' and defends EPA's rigorous review process.
- Approval could set a precedent for other uses and test Trump's executive order powers, with potential lawsuits if laws are bypassed.