Spanberger unveils data center restrictions plan in Virginia — The Hill
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has unveiled a framework plan to tighten restrictions on data centers. As The Hill reports, the initiative, called the Data Center Accountability Framework, provides for reducing noise pollution and water consumption by such facilities, developing clean energy, and supporting the creation of jobs at the local level.
Task force and information transparency
Spanberger signed an executive order creating an artificial intelligence task force. The document also instructs the state's chief energy officer to publish a set of recommendations for local communities considering proposals to build data centers.
In addition, the order prohibits state agencies and employees from entering into non-disclosure agreements that conceal information about planned data center projects. The governor said she intends to work with the Virginia General Assembly to enshrine some provisions of the plan in state legislation.
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Industry position
Northern Virginia is called Data Center Alley because of the large number of data centers being built in the region. Nicole Riley, Virginia director of government affairs at the industry association Data Center Coalition, said the organization is ready to work with state lawmakers on balanced rules. At the same time, she warned that significant and sudden policy changes without proper stakeholder engagement could prove impractical and jeopardize the industry's economic benefits, including jobs and investment.
Similar restrictions on data centers have recently been discussed in other U.S. states as well. Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed an order intended to prevent data center costs from being shifted onto local communities. Maryland Governor Wes Moore said he would sign a moratorium on new construction of such facilities, while Texas Governor Greg Abbott instructed the state's water board to impose sanctions on new data centers that fail to comply with water-use requirements.
