Yah, installing a fixed on-sight back up should be permitted and regulated. And I think they are in the jurisdiction of the facility, hence why they’re using mobile generators, the kinds of things normally used on construction sights.

I was referring more to like emission regulations on them. Dumping a bunch of particulates and exhaust products in to a local population’s air is really bad, but it’s not a huge issue if it’s temporary, like say on a construction sight or to deal with an occasional power outage. It’s another thing entirely when it’s the primary power source, or the power grid is failing so frequently that they’re being run all the time.

That situation in Texas sounds very much like them trying to do something to address public concerns about the grid failing by making it easier for people to “take personal responsibility” by installing backup generators. Clearly they do not want to annoy the private companies running the grid by forcing them to spend money on repairs, upgrades, and maintenance. Like, they’re unwilling to address the core issue, but public outcry means they have to do something, so instead they create a new safety issue that they can deny responsibility for.