Editorial Calls for Moratorium on New Data Center Construction in Virginia
An editorial from The Cavalier Daily advocates for an immediate moratorium on new data center construction in Virginia. The call stems from increasing concerns over data centers' massive electricity and water consumption, which strain the state's public utilities and lead to higher costs for residents. State leaders are urged to legislate a pause to develop sustainable guidelines.
An editorial published in The Cavalier Daily urges Virginia's state government to implement an immediate moratorium on new data center construction. The piece highlights growing bipartisan concern among Virginians regarding the significant electricity and water demands of these facilities, particularly in Northern Virginia, which hosts the world's largest concentration of data centers.
State Senator Glen Sturtevant recently wrote to Governor Abigail Spanberger, advocating for an executive order to halt new data center approvals. The editorial supports this pause, arguing it would provide lawmakers with crucial time to establish necessary guidelines for future data center development. It cites a July 22 power grid disturbance linked to data centers in Northern Virginia and notes that some planned data centers would require five to ten times the power of existing facilities, potentially increasing Dominion Energy customers' bills by up to $37 per month by 2040.
Beyond electricity, the article stresses the severe strain on Virginia's water supply. The Department of Environmental Quality's March 2024 report found that the Potomac Aquifer in Eastern Virginia cannot support additional "industrial withdrawals" for data center cooling. This report, initially withheld by the Youngkin and Spanberger administrations, underscores the water crisis, exacerbated by an ongoing statewide drought, making resource prioritization for residents critical.
While supporting a moratorium, the editorial prefers legislative action by the General Assembly over an executive order from Governor Spanberger, citing the legislature's broader policymaking power. The editorial board emphasizes the need for policymakers to address infrastructure strain, unsustainable resource consumption, and the economic burden on residents before the rapid data center expansion leads to an unmanageable crisis.