Governor Spanberger unveils plan to regulate data centers in Virginia
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has unveiled an executive order to regulate data centers, focusing on noise rules, reviewing diesel generators, and limiting on-site electricity generation. She also aims to end "by right zoning" for data centers, which requires legislative approval. Environmental groups are calling for a full moratorium on data center construction.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has unveiled a comprehensive plan aimed at reforming how data centers operate across the state. The initiative includes an executive order mandating a state-level review of backup diesel generators at data center facilities and accelerating the implementation of new noise regulations. Additionally, the Governor seeks to impose limits on the amount of electricity data centers can generate from their on-site gas plants, a measure she claims is unprecedented in other states.
A key component of Governor Spanberger's proposal is to eliminate "by right zoning" for data centers. This current system allows data center projects meeting existing criteria to be approved by county staff without public hearings or votes by elected officials. However, this specific change cannot be enacted solely by executive order and would require legislative action from the General Assembly, which is not expected to address the matter until 2027.
The Governor's plan has sparked debate, with some lawmakers advocating for even stricter controls on data center development. Environmental groups, such as the Piedmont Environmental Council, are pushing for more decisive action, calling for a complete moratorium on data center construction. They argue that the Governor's current plan fails to address the significant number of data centers already built or approved, citing Loudoun County alone as having 250 operational facilities with an additional 100 in the pipeline.