Data Centers
- State’s love affair with data centers is cooling
This post was originally published on this site.Data centers. Data centers. They are a necessity. We could benefit from data centers building in areas where there is a greater need, and doing more economic good, rather than rushing to build them at a jackrabbit’s pace. Virginia is home to one of the largest concentrations of […]
- Parent Delivers Remarks on School Priorities During Loudoun Meeting
During a public comment period at a Loudoun County Public Schools meeting, a parent presented remarks to school officials. The comments focused on the role of schools in relation to student safety. References were made to data centers in the context of community impacts. The session was noted as public comment in progress under the […]
- Democrats challenge Beyer in Va.’s 8th Congressional District, marred by federal layoffs
Everyone in Northern Virginia knows someone who was “DOGEd,” either laid off or otherwise impacted by sweeping cuts initiated through President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 federal workers; over 20,000 of them lost their jobs last year. The pain of those losses runs […]
- Virginia Regulators Approve Data Center Power Line Route Through Ashburn Neighborhood
The Virginia State Corporation Commission has issued a final order approving Route 3A for the Golden-Mars transmission line project proposed by Dominion Energy. This route will involve the construction of approximately 185-foot tall power line structures passing through portions of the Loudoun Valley Estates subdivision in Ashburn. The decision addresses the need for additional electrical […]
- Amid Virginia drought conditions, data centers face same restrictions as all water customers
About one-third of the state of Virginia is under extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and Gov. Abigail Spanberger is urging citizens to conserve water. So when local water authorities implement restrictions on water use, are there specific carve outs and rules for data centers, which use hundreds of thousands of gallons […]
- Do data centers impact our physical health? Studies are few and far between.
Data centers fuel the ever-growing demand for social media, artificial intelligence and streaming services, allowing people to access a plethora of entertainment options and streamline everyday tasks. And their numbers are growing — another 80 proposed projects cataloged by the Data Center Proposal Tracker would more than double the current 71 active sites in the […]
- PJM gets green light to push data centers onto back-up power during heat wave
The nation’s largest electricity grid — which includes Maryland, Washington D.C, and a dozen other states — received a green light from the Trump administration on Tuesday to require data centers and other large customers to turn on back-up generators during this week’s heatwave. The order, signed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, allows […]
- Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Hears Concerns on Data Center Growth
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors received comments from a resident during a public meeting. The speaker inquired if the county was on track to become known primarily for data centers. This statement occurred amid discussions of local development priorities. Details of the Public Comment The resident described a situation where data centers take precedence […]
- Spanberger signs assault weapons ban, package of criminal justice and energy bills
Gov. Abigail Spanberger late Thursday signed a sweeping package of legislation approved during the 2026 General Assembly session, including a ban on the future sale and manufacture of assault-style firearms, new restrictions of weapons in hospitals, marijuana sentencing reforms, voter roll maintenance changes and protections for immigrant workers. The assault weapons measure, one of the […]
- How Virginia became the world’s data center capital and how it’s going
Demand for internet access and electronic storage has grown alongside digital technology itself. At the center of that growth are the energy infrastructure and data centers that governments and companies began developing in Northern Virginia in the late 20th century. Today, the region houses the world’s largest concentration of data centers, making Virginia the nation’s […]
- Virginia’s romance with data centers has cooled, but nobody benefits if there’s a full breakup
Data centers. Can’t live with them. Can’t live without them. But we could do with data centers slowing their jackrabbit pace of reproduction in congested suburbs and, instead, building where they could fill a need and do more economic good. Our romance with data centers has cooled in Virginia, home to the world’s greatest concentration […]
- Farmers, retailers worry as state and federal regs for hemp, marijuana shift
A legal cannabis market is set to take effect in Virginia next summer pending a final state budget, but Mannassas-based Barbara Biddle has already given notice to her landlord to shut down one of her two hemp stores. As a purveyor of hemp-infused products, her District Hemp Botanicals shops sell creams, bath salts, infused drinks […]
- Dominion announces plans for new 3-gigawatt gas plant in Cumberland County
Dominion Energy is aiming to expand their portfolio of energy sources in Virginia with a massive 3,000 megawatt (3 gigawatts) combined cycle natural gas plant in Cumberland County. The utility is now preparing to seek state and local regulators’ approval of the plant, slated to be operational in less than 10 years. The plant will […]
- Governor Abigail Spanberger kills Prescription Drug Affordability Board proposal
A five-year effort to curb drug prices through a Prescription Drug Affordability Board just faced its third veto between two governors, as Abigail Spanberger formally rejected the measure Tuesday. The proposal had evolved over the years: first as a board to set payment limits on drug prices, and later as an advisory panel to help […]
- Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Requests School Board Review of Transmission Line Routes to Address Community and Health Priorities
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution on June 30, 2026, during a special joint meeting with the Planning Commission that asks the Loudoun County School Board to schedule an emergency meeting before July 20, 2026. The request asks the School Board to consider authorizing the use of Loudoun County Public Schools property […]
- What’s in the water? What we know and don’t know about data center water discharge in Virginia
Data centers require a massive amount of water to cool their systems, which heat up as they process digital information through numerous computers and network servers. Systems that aren’t “closed loop” have to cycle out water that doesn’t evaporate. Most data centers in Virginia are permitted to discharge water into municipal wastewater systems, the same […]
- Virginia lawmakers return Monday to weigh Spanberger budget amendments before fiscal deadline
Less than 48 hours before the start of Virginia’s new fiscal year, the General Assembly will meet in Richmond Monday to consider Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s proposed amendments to the state’s two-year spending plan lawmakers passed one week ago. The House of Delegates will reconvene at noon to take up the governor’s amendments first, followed later […]
- Virginia has a new two-year budget. Here’s what lawmakers now require of data centers.
Marvell data center in Culpeper County. The Virginia legislature’s new two-year budget imposes new standards on the industry to address concerns about data centers’ energy use and impact on the environment. (Photo by Evan Visconti/Virginia Mercury) A new tax has been activated for data centers, the most energy-intensive industry in Virginia, through a provision of […]
- Virginia General Assembly approves Spanberger’s budget amendments, ending monthslong impasse
With less than 48 hours remaining before the start of Virginia’s new fiscal year, the General Assembly on Monday approved a package of amendments proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger to the state’s two-year budget, formally ending a budget fight among the Democratic majority that had dragged on for months. The House of Delegates and state […]
- Data Center Developments in Virginia Face Uncertainty from Tax Discussions
Data center projects in Virginia are encountering challenges linked to debates over taxation policies. Reports indicate that several major initiatives may be withdrawing, raising questions about future economic contributions estimated in the range of one hundred billion dollars. These developments involve key locations including Prince William County and the Emporia area. Legislative sessions in t
- ‘It’s outrageous’: Spanberger navigates budget fight, Democratic unrest six months into governorship
Back in January, Gov. Abigail Spanberger arrived in office promising pragmatism, affordability and a less combative style of politics. Fast forward a few months, and Virginia’s first woman governor finds herself navigating one of the rockiest starts to a Democratic administration in years, with budget negotiations intensifying weeks before a shutdown deadline, frustration simmering inside […]
- Valley Link Transmission Project: Proposed High-Voltage Lines Spark Debate Across Virginia and Beyond
A major infrastructure initiative known as Valley Link is advancing through planning stages to address growing electricity demand in the Mid-Atlantic region. Developed by Valley Link Transmission LLC—a joint venture of Dominion Energy, Transource (involving American Electric Power), and FirstEnergy—the project features 765kV transmission lines intended to enhance grid reliability. However, it has
- Residents wrangle over transmission line proposal for rural Virginia
GOOCHLAND, Va.—Deborah Blackburn leaned on her cane in a line to enter the Central High Cultural and Educational Complex, angst-ridden over a giant transmission line proposal for reasons that are common refrains here: It’s all to benefit data centers in Northern Virginia, and it will disrupt the rural character here outside Richmond. “We don’t want […]
- Supervisor Juli Briskman Voices Opposition to 50 New Substations in Loudoun
Loudoun County Supervisor Juli Briskman stated that 50 more substations are planned for the county. She indicated her plan to vote against the proposals because of the appearance of current designs. These structures have been described as visually unappealing to nearby residents. The issue has arisen in the context of ongoing county development activities. Briskman […]
- Virginia House, Senate to meet Monday as budget deadline inches closer
The Virginia House of Delegates will convene Monday afternoon in Richmond, House Clerk Paul Nardo confirmed Friday. The state Senate will meet the same day, as both chambers work towards resolving the state budget, which must be finalized by June 30 or risk a government shutdown. The House had been scheduled to meet Thursday but […]
- Virginia legislators advance $205 billion budget including new tax on data centers
On Monday, Virginia legislators approved a two-year, $205 billion budget proposal to fund healthcare and public education, provide 4% teacher raises and a 3.5% pay bump to state employees, establish a retail weed marketplace and hedge against decreased federal dollars. The spending plan also includes a provision to tax data centers for their energy consumption, […]
- Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs wetlands, PFAS and flooding bills
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs an environmental bill into law in Stafford, VA on May 6, 2026. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) On the banks of Aquia Creek in Stafford, Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday signed a slew of bills designed to protect Virginia’s clean water from harmful forever chemicals and aid communities as sea levels […]
- Loudoun County Board Advances Data Center Approval on Consent Agenda
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors moved a data center approval to its consent agenda during a recent session. Phyllis Randall participated in the decision along with other Democratic members of the board. This action resulted in the item receiving approval without extended discussion or individual votes. The procedural choice has led to comments from […]
- Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond as budget deadline nears
Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond this month for another attempt to reach a budget deal, with just days until the start of the new fiscal year and no agreement yet on the state’s next two-year spending plan. The House of Delegates is scheduled to reconvene its special session June 18 at 10 […]
- Is Dominion’s plan to merge with NextEra good or bad for Virginians?
Man, even the Pope doesn’t like data centers. In his new encyclical on artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV laid out the dangers of the mad rush to replace humans with AI. Amid the concerns for the dignity and future of humanity, he took a moment to mention the environmental damage involved: Current AI systems require […]
- SELC appeals to state supreme court over SCC approval of Dominion’s Chesterfield gas plant
The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing the Chesterfield County branch of the NAACP, Appalachian Voices, and Mothers Out Front, on Wednesday filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Virginia over state regulators’ approval of Dominion Energy’s Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC), a gas peaker plant fiercely opposed by the groups and residents that’s slated […]
- Dominion just can’t kick its fossil fuel addiction
Flush with success after the SCC ignored legal deficiencies and approved the company’s plan for a large gas peaker plant in Chesterfield, Dominion Energy is pushing its luck with a proposal for a massively bigger gas combined-cycle plant. The 3,000 MW facility slated for Cumberland County would be Dominion’s biggest fossil fuel plant ever, the […]
- Preservation, environmental groups say Valley Link transmission line risks Virginia’s natural resources
Ten historic preservation and environmental groups are cautioning against the potential impacts of the proposed high-powered Valley Link transmission line that will span 115-miles across Virginia, casting it as a danger to the state’s natural resources. The high-voltage line that will stretch from just outside Lynchburg to Culpeper County would be the largest transmission project […]
- Virginia revenues surge despite job losses amid budget standoff
Virginia’s economy is showing increasing signs of strain from slower job growth, rising inflation and weakening consumer confidence, even as state revenues continue exceeding expectations and giving lawmakers more room to negotiate a stalled state budget, Virginia Secretary of Finance Mark Sickles said Tuesday. Presenting the administration’s latest economic and revenue update to the Senate […]
- Virginia governor signs Dominion-backed bills. All eyes on regulators now.
RICHMOND, Va.—Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation that directs regulators to assign electricity costs to data centers and allows Dominion Energy to spend $900,000 a mile burying local distribution lines. The bills from Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico, could have also required data centers to cover […]
- New state law mandates review of Dominion’s load forecasting, as data centers raise concerns
Virginia State Corporation Commission members hear testimony concerning Dominion Energy’s proposed rate increase and plan to create a new rate class for data centers on September 2, 2025 in Richmond. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) Dominion Energy’s annual rate case in September prompted concerns from data centers about how fast the utility connects their industry […]
- Here’s what House lawmakers want to require of data centers to keep their sales tax break
Del. Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, walks the House floor towards the dais after being re-elected Virginia House Speaker in January 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/ Virginia Mercury) As lawmakers work behind closed doors to finalize the state’s $212 billion budget before the next fiscal year begins in July, negotiations hinge on whether the data center […]
- Virginia House Debates Leadership Structure for New Distributed Energy Resources Task Force
Helmer’s comments focused on Recommendation 3 within the bill, arguing that board-chosen leadership aligns with standard practices for such advisory groups. The exchange highlighted procedural nuances in establishing the task force, which would include representatives from utilities like Dominion Energy, environmental organizations, local governments, and industry experts. These entities are pivot
- FBI raids Sen. Louise Lucas’ Portsmouth office, marijuana business
State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, on the Senate floor at the Virginia Capitol in Richmond. Federal agents on Wednesday raided Lucas’ Portsmouth office and adjacent cannabis business as part of a court-authorized FBI search operation. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) Federal agents on Wednesday morning raided the Portsmouth office of state Sen. Louise Lucas, one […]
- FBI Executes Multiple Raids on Virginia Senate Leader Louise Lucas’s Office and Related Sites in Major Corruption Probe
Portsmouth, Virginia – Federal agents with the FBI carried out search warrants Wednesday at the Portsmouth office of Virginia State Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas and at least 10 other locations across the state as part of an ongoing public corruption investigation. According to footage broadcast by Fox News and accounts from individuals […]
- Local governments race to attract data centers, often in spite of concerns from their constituents
Marvell data center is one of eight newly approved data center campuses in Culpeper County. (Photo by Evan Visconti/Virginia Mercury). Data centers — proposed beside town centers, on generational farmlands, in view of cemeteries and next to Civil War battlegrounds across Virginia — are testing local governments’ ability to regulate industrial land use. Concurrently, the […]
- Data center tax exemption changes still holding up Virginia budget
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (left) and Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas speak with reporters on Wednesday. (Photo by Charles Paullin/Inside Climate News) This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News (hyperlink to the original story), a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. […]
- Virginia lawmakers recess special session without a budget deal
The Virginia state Capitol in Richmond, where lawmakers convened Thursday for a special session to finalize the budget. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) The Virginia General Assembly convened for a special session Thursday to finalize the state’s $212 billion budget, but recessed after just a few hours without a deal, underscoring deep divisions within […]
- Conservation groups raise alarm as Potomac River named most endangered in the nation
A view of the U.S. Capitol from the Potomac River, March 30, 2026. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) The Potomac River, otherwise known as “the nation’s river,” has been named the most endangered river in the country, following a massive sewage spill earlier this year and the ongoing buildout of thirsty data centers across the […]
- Loudoun Supervisor Koran Saines Denies Data Center Financial Ties During April 7 Board Meeting, But VPAP Records Show $15,000 in Donations from Construction Firms Tied to Data Center Projects
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — In a pointed defense of his integrity amid ongoing public scrutiny of data center development in Loudoun County, Sterling District Supervisor Koran T. Saines (D) told fellow Board of Supervisors members and residents on April 7, 2026, that he has not accepted any campaign contributions from data center companies. Yet Virginia […]
- Governor amends bills that shift costs onto data centers. Critics say her tweaks weaken them.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger listens as former President Barack Obama speaks at a Nov. 2025 rally for her campaign when she was the Democratic nominee. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed and suggested changes to dozens of bills this week, including tweaks to a key energy measure that’s at the center […]
- Uptick in continued Virginia General Assembly legislation reflects varied motivations
The State Capitol in Richmond. (Photo by Kacy Lee/Capital News Service) By Kacy Lee/VCU Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — Hundreds of bills were continued to 2027 following the recent Virginia General Assembly session that concluded in mid-March, a method political experts say is increasingly used by lawmakers for several reasons. A total of 2,366 […]
- Abigail Spanberger signs first wave of bills targeting health care, housing and energy cost
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signing bills. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed the first first batch of bills passed by state lawmakers before they adjourned in mid-March, advancing measures on health care, housing and energy affordability. With hundreds of bills cleared by the legislature, she has until April 13 to sign, […]
- Virginia General Assembly Debates Tax Treatment of Vacant Land Amid Housing Concerns
During the public session, one speaker advocated for reduced taxation on undeveloped parcels, arguing it would incentivize property owners and developers to improve the land. ‘Having a lower tax rate on vacant land encourages development and improvements,’ the speaker said, suggesting it could lead to more housing units entering the market. Counterarguments focused on fiscal […]
- Partisan Gridlock Stalls Vital Park Infrastructure in Loudoun County
In a recent Board of Supervisors meeting in Loudoun County, Virginia, a straightforward proposal to allocate $700,000 from the county’s fund balance for the design phase of the Goose Creek Bridge in a local park was abruptly shut down