Does Spanberger support a data center moratorium in Virginia?
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger supports setting higher statewide standards for data center development, covering aspects like water, noise, land, and energy usage. However, she stopped short of endorsing a statewide moratorium, instead emphasizing that decisions regarding moratoriums should remain a local choice for individual communities.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has expressed her stance on data center development in the state. While acknowledging that some localities in Virginia may choose to implement moratoriums or not welcome data centers, she firmly stated that such decisions are a local choice.
The Governor emphasized her commitment to working with the General Assembly to ensure Virginia establishes the "highest standard possible" for future data center investments. These standards would address critical areas such as water usage, noise impact, land utilization, and energy consumption. She also noted that data centers would be responsible for their own transmission costs and would contribute their fair share for energy consumption through a unique state tax.