What's next for Virginia data center oversight bills as Spanberger weighs action

The Virginia General Assembly has passed two key bills, House Bill 153 and Senate Bill 553, aimed at increasing oversight and transparency within the state's rapidly growing data center industry. Chief patrons Del. Josh Thomas (D-House District 21) and Sen. Kannan Srinivasan (D-District 32) presented the measures as initial steps towards greater regulation. Senate Bill 553, championed by Sen. Srinivasan, mandates both existing and future data centers to report their water consumption, intending to bring transparency to their resource usage. Del. Thomas's House Bill 153 requires localities to conduct more thorough reviews, including sound studies, before approving new data center projects. This bill also grants localities the option to assess other potential impacts, such as those on water resources and agricultural or forested lands. While former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Jonathan Fishwick, views the legislation as a signal that the state intends to take more control over data centers, opponents argue the measures do not go far enough. Elena Schlossberg, director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, acknowledged the bills as progress but stressed the continued lack of "real accountability or restraints." Both Thomas and Srinivasan expressed commitment to further regulatory efforts in future legislative sessions. Governor Spanberger has until April 13 to decide whether to sign, amend, or veto these bills.