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Neighbors uniting for a healthier St. Louis region
“If you live in the St. Louis Metropolitan region, the air you breathe may put your health at risk.”
“If you live in the St. Louis Metropolitan region, the air you breathe may put your health at risk.”
Weigh in for clean air on the City's draft regulations for data centers:
Two key May dates
Monday, May 11, 5:30 pm webinar
To unveil revised Planning & Zoning regulations for Data Centers
From the city: During this webinar, City planning, zoning, sustainability, and other City staff will walk through the updated recommended zoning regulations for data centers in the city. The session will include a presentation and Q&A.
For updated information and the revised regulations, please head here.
Join the data center regulations info webinar from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://stlouis-mo-gov.zoom.us/j/82986212175 [stlouis-mo-gov.zoom.us]
For the Phone/Audio options go here: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/events/eventdetails.cfm?Event_ID=5349
To get more connected to the resistance to dirty data centers in Missouri, please sign up with NOMODIRTYDATACENTERS.Com at https://nomodatacenters.com/contact-us
Speak Up for Clean Air at the
Official Hearing on Data Center Regulations
Monday, May 18, 5:30 at City Hall, Room 208
A public hearing for item PDA-003-26-ZTX (data center regulations) will be held on Monday May 18th, at 5:30pm. This hearing will be hybrid, and will be held in the Kennedy Room in City Hall (1200 Market St. Rm. 208). This is not the normal location for Planning Commission meetings. We are moving the hearing to the Kennedy Room to accommodate more members of the public and to streamline audio and visuals for the online attendees. At this hybrid hearing, the public will hear an updated presentation form PDA staff and have a chance to speak in favor or opposition to the draft regulations. Info on how to join the hybrid meeting on Zoom here.
Your voice in favor of strong, protective regulations is urgently needed because pollution-friendly forces are gearing up to weaken and dilute any regulations on data centers.
Hyperscale data centers use as much electricity as 100,000-200,000 homes - forcing Ameren to build more power plants and Ameren is responding with plans for dirty fossil fuel plants, which will cripple local efforts for cleaner air. The other air pollution disaster is data center backup power. The proposed Armory data center alone will have 50 diesel generators providing backup power - and adding to the pollution burden with fine particulate matter, nitrous oxide emissions, and increasing our ozone problem. Tierpoint’s smaller data center on Locust quietly won approval this year to add ten generators to its location. All of these sources will add to our pollutant burden - and the pollutants our children carry in their bodies. Our health statistics are already dismal for asthma, heart disease and respiratory illness. Data centers will make matters worse. Ozone pollution, formed when certain chemicals react with sunlight, aggravates a host of health problems and triggering inflammation - as if our hot summers weren’t misery enough.
In contrast, advocates in Illinois are pressing their state for environmentally responsible requirements for data centers for all new renewable energy instead of dirty gas plants with diesel backups. It is not too much to ask billionaires for clean air.
To submit comments using their form, go here.
Written comments may be submitted to the Planning Commission BEFORE MAY 17 at planning-commission@stlouis-mo.gov.
St. Louis Area Ozone Dangers Flagged by American Lung Association 2026 State of the Air Report
Living conditions for people with asthma and COPD are bad and getting worse in our region. St. Louis City and County both received an F grade on ozone exposures (smog) in the newest State of the Air Report. See link.
Ground level ozone, a pollutant created when sunlight and weather conditions interact with certain chemicals (mostly Nitrogen Oxides or NOx), is also getting worse across the nation. Aggravated by climate change, ozone pollution causes a range of health impacts- it is a systemic full body toxin that exacerbates other health conditions.
Living in areas with ozone pollution may cause lasting damage to respiratory health, including development of new cases of asthma in children, damage to airways, leading to development of COPD, and increased allergic response. Short- and long-term exposure to ozone can cause inflammation and oxidative stress which can result in damaging tissues, genes, and proteins throughout the body, and worsen or cause other disease conditions. Exposure to ozone, even at levels below the current standard set by EPA, likely increase the risk of premature death and increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease mortality.
Recent actions by the city and data center polluters, will not improve our ozone problem.
https://www.lung.org/research/sota/city-rankings/states/missouri
Is the Armory Data Center a done deal? Not exactly.
The Board of Public Service approved the Conditional Use Permit for the Armory Data Center at their April 21 meeting. The decision may be appealed.
St. Louis Board of Public Service approves Armory data center proposal
With last minute changes to conditions that were not shared with the public before the vote, the unelected Board of Public Service voted Tuesday, April 21 to approve a data center proposal in mid-town St. Louis. We continue to be concerned about water use, forever chemical discharges, air, noise and heat pollution. Claims about "closed loop" water cooling are increasingly in question as an environmental benefit because less water means more electricity - and Ameren is firing up dirty energy plants to fuel data center demand. Opponents of this ill sited and ill conceived project now move to an appeals process.
News:
https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-04-21/data-center-project-near-armory-final-approval-st-louis
https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/board-of-public-services-greenlights-midtown-data-center/
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Thanks to everyone who participated in the March 19th Zoning Board hearing on the Conditional Use Permit for the Armory Data Center project whether you joined the FOUR HOUR zoom call or emailed comments. There are more steps before a decision is made. We will keep you posted here.
Our air is not protected yet- data center projects are being fought in Franklin County, Ferguson, Montgomery County, Warrenton, and Jefferson County.
Keep Reading below...
Armory Data Center: too close to residences, hospitals, schools
Armory Data Center: too close to residences, hospitals, schools
What’s at Stake? Your health, finances, quality of life
The air quality impacts of data centers range from the regional impacts of mercury, NOx, SOx and particulate emissions from the new power plants required to run them to the localized toxic emissions from back up power systems which are often diesel generators or small gas turbines. These are pollutants that contribute to asthma, COPD, strokes, heart disease, cancer, and immune and neurological illness. Some of their associated hazardous air pollutant emissions contribute to reproductive problems.
And now data centers bring three other types of pollution that can decimate an urban environment like ours: heat, noise, and infrasound. While the other pollutants are governed by federal law, these pollutants the city can regulate.
The St. Louis data center proposal is for a 120MW (megawatt) hyperscale data center which will be linking millions of microchips together in the same space to run generative AI (these are not the kind of data centers that store your photos and tax returns).
Almost all of the electricity running a data center is converted to heat. Because of this, cooling data centers demands an insane quantity of water, most of which is lost as steam. Visionaries in Europe are contemplating using the waste heat from data centers to heat buildings. That is not an option here yet. However, data centers make heat 24 hours/day 365 days/year and there are nine months per year in our region when excessive heat is a public health threat not an asset. This is why data centers do not need to be centralized on existing heat islands.
People are concerned that the data center could cause an 18 degree fahrenheit increase in ambient temperature with a higher heat density than steel forges or aluminum smelters. Cool roofs and trees alone cannot abate this. And few trees can even live in extreme heat.
Hyperscale data centers cannot overheat or they will fail. As a result, they are equipped with large fans, pumps, and mechanical apparatus that contribute to a continual hum. Now that the nation has dozens of existing data centers, their impacts are being felt and heard in communities everywhere. With a quick internet search, you’ll find communities whose well water is tainted or gone, health complaints, and, notably, electric bill increases as high as 267%. The peace and quiet in rural areas is disrupted, and the noisy urban environment, which now knows moments of silence during the darkest of night or when snowfall has stilled the highways, will be lost to a constant hum from a never resting data center.
Low-Frequency Soundwave Pollution
In addition, vibrations from this equipment can create low frequency sound waves below 20 Hz called infrasound. The sound pressure infrasound creates can be felt even if it cannot be heard. Infrasound is below our ability to hear it, yet is detectable by its effects which can include dizziness, nausea, and discomfort. These low frequency sound waves have long wavelengths and can travel over long distances. Studies have shown that exposure to these frequencies can disrupt sleep, memory, cognitive function, and mood. This is why we should protect residences, schools, and hospitals from data center impacts.
Thank you for attending the hearing Wed. Feb 11☺️
The Planning and Zoning Commissioners met Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. at their conference room at 1520 Market Street to hear the draft regulations. (We have NO regulations or standards now).
You can watch the Planning Commission staff and Commissioners talk about the draft data center regulations at the February 11 meeting and hear how people responded on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDbXwB6prdo
Thank you to everyone who sent in comments, called in comments, or attended the St. Louis Planning Commission’s first hearing on their draft regulations for data centers on February 11.
Planning staff shared their framework for drafting the regulations and reviewed the draft for the appointed Planning Commissioners. The room was overflowing and the hearing ran for more than three hours.
Following the presentation, commissioners peppered the staff with questions.
Then the people pushed back with arguments for
Delaying approval of these regulations or any data center regulations until the city’s whole zoning code rewrite is ready in the fall.
Rejecting data centers entirely, and
No ‘by right zoning’ at all in St. Louis for data centers (requiring each data center proposal to get more public scrutiny).
During the public comment period people raised their concerns ranging from escalating utility bills, to air pollution, to the fact that getting a liquor license for a restaurant requires more than the proposed data center regulations so far. Teachers, engineers, mothers, artists, businessmen, and others testified. Each perspective contributed meaningfully to the record.
In closing remarks, Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier made it clear that those of us organizing to stop dirty, unethical data centers have more work to do. That work was made clear two days later on 2/13 when the board of Alderman voted down a proposal that Sonnier and Michael Browning brought to the floor that would pause data center development in the city until regulations are finalized. This was on the last day to introduce bills this year. (See: https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-02-13/st-louis-aldermen-deny-pause-data-centers-developers-new-project-applications).
Illinois seeks Redesignation on Ozone Non-Attainment for Metro East
Hearing Dec. 12.
Details here: https://epa.illinois.gov/public-notices/general-notices.html
BBSTL with GRG submits comments on Greenhouse Gas Emission standards in defense of public health
BBSTL with GRG submits comments on Greenhouse Gas Emission standards in defense of public health
See our documents link at the Reporting and Links tab above for the complete letter.
CDC's ATSDR Report Comes Up Short
CDC's ATSDR Report Comes Up Short
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released a report in May 2025 that had been commissioned by Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth in 2019. Duckworth had requested a study of the health impacts of the air quality in Sauget, IL, an area with chemical companies and historical toxic waste sites from industry. The agency did not have enough air data to write a report, so they sent the EPA on a mission to get some. The EPA did some air monitoring in 2021, however, ATSDR's May report shows that it is still insufficient.
You can find the report on our "Reporting and Links" page under "ATSDR's Health Consultation for Veolia's neighbors".
In our own review of the report, we found that EPA's sampling for Volatile Organic Chemicals, which is a category that includes many carcinogens, respiratory, skin and eye irritants, was especially sparse - constraining ATSDR to consider only three days of monitoring over a rainy weekend in August 27-29, 2021 and data that was decades old. This sparsity led ATSDR to conclude that more monitoring is desperately needed.
We agree that more- and more robust- monitoring is needed to achieve the goal of clean air compliance in and around Sauget and its downwind neighbors: South St. Louis, Cahokia Heights and East St. Louis.
Toxic Air Season is HERE!
Toxic Air Season is HERE!
Share this video now to Friends & Family
Share this video now to Friends & Family
As winter thaws and the air warms up, we will all be getting outdoors more - and you know what that means! Be sure to report any bad air encounters you have and share the video so others can be inspired to do the same.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BbyFhRFSd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFs1KynP4n4/?igsh=MWQybDl0bm0yZWE2MQ==
St. Louis Ozone Nonattainment Area
Reclassification to “Serious"
This designation means we have more unhealthy air days and action is needed to reduce ozone pollution and protect the health of our citizens.
https://dnr.mo.gov/document/st-louis-ozone-nonattainment-area-reclassification-serious-presentation-april-24-2025
Eyes watering? Breathing constricting?
Smell something odd in the air? Report it here
The images above are captured on May 15, 2025 from the Dept. of Natural Resources air quality monitoring site (also linked for the current conditions). See May 14 readings below.. Note the worsening in conditions from morning to afternoon readings.
The above images capture the air quality the days before the May 16 tornado that devastated St. Louis in May 2025.
St. Louis Air Quality Grade: F
St. Louis Air Quality Grade: F
The American Lung Association 2025 State of the Air Report shows a persistent failure to achieve healthy air over the past nearly three decades. Disturbingly, it shows air quality for ozone getting worse since 2021 and trending worse. Ozone pollution poses significant health risks for people with respiratory conditions, the young, the elderly and people spending a lot of time outdoors in the summer when ozone pollution peaks.
Overall, the St. Louis region:
Ranked 21 worst for high ozone days out of 228 metropolitan areas
Ranked 88 worst for 24-hour particle pollution out of 225 metropolitan areas
Ranked 17 worst for annual particle pollution out of 208 metropolitan areas
March 15, 2025 St. Louis Air Quality Takes a Dangerous Turn
March 15, 2025 St. Louis Air Quality Takes a Dangerous Turn
After Friday March 14 thunderstorms and tornadoes, St. Louisans woke up March 15 to a thick haze of particulate-matter filled air which ran our air quality index (AQI) off the charts- as high at 800 on the scale in some places. Good air on the AQI is 0-35. St. Louis was at 735 on the Missouri Dept. of Natural Resource's scale. Individual air monitors were even higher at some locations nearer the riverfront.
Visibility was so low that the Arch could not be seen from its usual places.
Follow this link to keep up: https://dnr.mo.gov/air/hows-air/current-air-quality
Good job!
Good job!
About 70 people on zoom and in the room attended the EPA meeting Saturday 9/28 on the Veolia hazardous waste incinerator permitting. Great questions from everyone!
Thank you for attending!
Thank you for attending!
EPA Public Meeting
EPA Public Meeting
Saturday, Sept. 28
Saturday, Sept. 28
1-3 p.m.
Jackie Joyner Kersee Community Center
Whether by zoom or in person, we are grateful for your presence! We exceeded our goal with over 70 participants!
Thank you to the JJK Center for their gracious hosting! Thank you to the EPA for coming all the way from Chicago. And Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up and helped fill the room and the zoom.
Our Next Regular Meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 at 7 p.m. Sign up on our mailing list below for details.
NEWS: St. Louis Magazine
According to the American Lung Association:
St. Louis consistently receives an “F” for ozone levels
Although ozone levels have decreased for the city and county of St. Louis, the 2020 report says ozone is still too high
In addition, there are particulates and heavy metals such as lead and mercury found in our air
What is Breathe Better STL?
What is Breathe Better STL?
We're a group of neighbors that have come together through word of mouth to investigate and resolve the problem of respiratory toxins we experience as "The Smell" and to make sure EPA stops the toxic air in 2024 so no more people have to suffer.
We recognize that air quality laws are in place to protect us and we intend to see that they do. The toxic air has been eliminated before, and we can do it again! Especially with all your help.
The distinctive metallic, chemical smell is sometimes so strong it burns the nose, throat and eyes, and can cause coughing and flare ups of medical conditions such as asthma.
We have united to ensure clean air for our community, on both sides of the river.
We are currently focused on the air pollution permit of Veolia Environmental Service, a hazardous waste incinerator in Sauget because their permit is open for updates and renewal.
Why Do We Exist?
Why Do We Exist?
EPA rule changes under the Trump administration redefined:
The acceptable levels of toxins in the air
The list of toxins being monitored
The monitoring process
The EPA issued a Clean Air Act violation to Veolia on September 23, 2021. Specifically, Veolia violated the carbon monoxide emission standard, which is an indication that equipment was not properly destroying the hazardous waste that was fed to it.
The EPA also found that Veolia failed to operate its equipment within acceptable ranges needed for proper pollution control, allowed storage tanks to leak vapors, and emitted more nitrogen oxide than is allowed.
Our Goals
Our Goals
To make you aware of local air quality problems
To make you aware of local air quality problems
To improve the health of Missouri and Metro East citizens
To improve the health of Missouri and Metro East citizens
To have >400 people attend a permit hearing with the EPA
To have >400 people attend a permit hearing with the EPA
Formerly the Metro Toxic Air Task Force
Formerly the Metro Toxic Air Task Force
EPA Hearing
EPA Hearing
Veolia submitted an application for new Title V Clean Air Act permit in November 4, 2023. Their current permit expired in July 2024.
Go to www.epa.gov/caa-permitting/Veolia-sauget-air-permitting to view the current permit as well as the draft permit for 2024 when it is released.
Sign up to be informed about our ongoing progress, and to be notified when the EPA schedules their hearing to review the permit.
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