Virginia Candidates Debate Moratorium on Data Center Construction
An Augusta Free Press opinion column says Rep. Ben Cline and Democratic candidate Beth Macy support a moratorium on data center construction in Virginia. The article highlights data centers' water and electricity use, Macy's opposition to projects in Botetourt and Roanoke counties, and disagreements over Cline's record on data center incentives and regulation.
An opinion column by Reese Bull discusses Virginia's rapid data center expansion and argues that the facilities' heavy water and electricity demands warrant a construction moratorium. It says Democratic candidate Beth Macy opposes data centers in Botetourt County and Roanoke County, while Rep. Ben Cline has expressed support for some limits but has also backed policies and tax incentives favorable to the industry.
The column also addresses Gov. Abigail Spanberger's reported ban on nondisclosure agreements between data centers and state agencies and her efforts to limit the facilities' impacts. It questions whether Cline's promotion of the Ratepayer Protection Act was misleading after the Senate defeated the bill and concludes that voters must determine his actual position.