Key facts
- 17 environmental groups are urging the EPA to reject Chemours' new Pfas chemical, Opteon 2P50, for datacenter cooling.
- The groups claim Chemours is using flawed science to minimize the chemical's toxicity and climate risks.
- They argue that fast-tracking approval under a Trump executive order would violate environmental laws.
- Datacenter cooling systems using this Pfas gas are presented as an alternative to water-intensive cooling.
- Recent research suggests the chemical's byproduct, TFA, is more toxic than previously understood.
- Earthjustice is concerned the EPA might prioritize approval over health risk assessments.
A coalition of 17 environmental groups has formally urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reject a new Pfas chemical, Opteon 2P50, that chemical company Chemours is seeking to fast-track for use in datacenter cooling systems. The groups contend that Chemours is employing flawed science to downplay the chemical's toxicity and climate risks, and that approving it would violate environmental laws.
These environmental advocates argue that the datacenter industry, facing criticism for high water consumption, is promoting Pfas-based cooling as an alternative without fully disclosing the associated hazards. Lenny Siegel, director of Chips Communities United, stated that while some alternatives use less water, they often involve hazardous chemicals that are toxic and potent greenhouse gases.
Pfas, known as "forever chemicals," are a class of approximately 16,000 compounds that persist in the environment and human body, and are linked to serious health issues including cancer and liver disease. The new chemical, Opteon 2P50, is the first for which industry has requested expedited approval under a Trump administration executive order aimed at speeding up reviews for datacenter chemicals.
Chemours maintains that the two-phase cooling systems are closed-loop, minimizing emissions, and that any escaped gas is low. However, recent research indicates that a byproduct, TFA, is more toxic than previously believed and has been classified as hazardous by the European Chemical Agency. Earthjustice scientist Adriana Antezana expressed concern that the EPA might interpret "priority review" as "priority approval," potentially overlooking health risks.
The groups also allege that Chemours has a history of polluting communities near its plants and that the approval of Opteon 2P50 could pose an unreasonable risk, especially given existing widespread Pfas contamination in U.S. drinking water. Chemours has countered that the environmental groups are making "sweeping generalizations" and that the EPA's review process is rigorous.