Virginia congressman pitches national data center plan
Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has proposed federal legislation to address the impact of data centers, including making them pay for power, tracking resource use, and guiding development locations. He supports a statewide moratorium in Virginia due to the high concentration of data centers impacting utility bills and the power grid. Subramanyam also highlighted national security concerns and significant community opposition.
Virginia Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has introduced a comprehensive plan to address the local and national impacts of data centers. His proposal includes provisions that would require data centers to pay for their own power consumption, track their water and energy usage, and establish guidelines for where new facilities can be built.
Speaking with WUSA9, Congressman Subramanyam emphasized national security concerns, likening data centers to critical infrastructure targets in modern warfare. He advocated for federal involvement in undergrounding power lines to enhance safety and security. Locally, he cited the concentration of over 300 data centers in his Loudoun County district, which he refers to as the "data center capital of the world," as a major contributor to rising utility bills for residents and strain on the power grid.
Subramanyam expressed support for a statewide moratorium on new data centers in Virginia, arguing that the state already hosts too many. While acknowledging outreach to the industry, he stated that the industry primarily focuses on short-term profits rather than long-term community impact. He asserted that elected officials must protect communities from escalating utility costs and that a piecemeal, county-by-county approach to data center regulation is insufficient.
The Congressman revealed that one of his four proposed bills, which aims to measure the impact of data centers, has already cleared a committee and is expected to be voted on by the House before year-end, with anticipated presidential approval. He believes federal action is necessary to establish uniform standards and a national plan for data center development, especially given widespread community opposition, with 70% of people reportedly not wanting data centers in their areas.