Why Virginia Is the Next Hotbed for AI Data Center Debate
Summary
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s 2027 agenda proposes tighter rules for data centers, including local approval for facilities that use more than 25 megawatts and a ban on certain nondisclosure agreements. The proposals build on a state accountability framework and come as Virginia faces concerns about data centers’ effects on utility bills, water, land and communities.Key Facts
- The proposed agenda would require local approval for any data center using more than 25 megawatts of power, even if it had prior approval.
- The agenda would ban nondisclosure agreements that prevent local government staff and board members from discussing data center projects.
- Spanberger’s agenda calls for stronger protections for natural resources and workers’ salaries from AI tools that use surveillance data and personal assumptions.
- A proposed Virginia Data Center Oversight Act would require operators to disclose ownership, water and energy use, and costs that could be passed to utility customers.
- The proposed oversight act could impose fines of up to $1 million per day for noncompliance.
- Virginia has 398 active data centers and 287 more planned, according to figures attributed to Pew.
- Loudoun County is known as “Data Center Alley” because of its concentration of data centers.
- Spanberger issued a Data Center Accountability Framework executive order in September to increase oversight of data center development.
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