economy
- Prince William Supervisors Vote Unanimously to End By-Right Data Center Development
An 8-0 board vote advances Tom Gordy’s 90-day grace framework, shrinks the 2016 overlay, and leaves residential and school setbacks for later Planning Commission action.
- ¡Vamos! Breeze Announces Nonstop Service to Cancún
Twice weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays starting in January 2027 Starting in January, Richmond travelers seeking sun and fun can catch a quick, nonstop flight with Breeze Airways to Cancún, Mexico, where they’ll be greeted by gorgeous white sand beaches, vibrant culture and nightlife, and experiences for everyone.
- Virginia localities weigh 1% sales tax for school construction as voters decide on expansion
A view from the front entrance of the renovated Gloucester County High School, which opened in September 2025.
- Governor Spanberger Announces $23 Million in Grants for Community Development Across the Commonwealth
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced $22.7 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) that will fund 17 community projects across Virginia.
- Bristol building owners continue to fight legal battle against abortion clinic
The landlords of Bristol who tried for two years to get the abortion clinic out of their building have appealed the dismissal their lawsuit against clinic owner.
- West Piedmont Planning District Commission Awarded Funding Through Virginia Housing Workforce Housing Investment Program
The West Piedmont Planning District Commission learned back in December that it was awarded $1,000,000 in funding through the Virginia Workforce Housing Investment Program.
- Virginia’s Data-Center Boom Runs on Water and Diesel: Loudoun’s Billion Gallons and 8,910 Generators
Unconstrained Demand tallies Loudoun data centers above 1 billion gallons of water in 2023, statewide use above 2.1 billion, and 8,910 mostly Tier 2 diesel generators permitted for up to 500 hours a year.
- Spanberger’s energy plan keys in on clean energy to meet growing demand and VCEA goals
Gov. Abigail Spanberger unveils energy plan that models how the state can meet energy demands while meeting clean energy goals.
- Virginia Faces $1.7 Billion Highway Maintenance Funding Gap
Virginia transportation officials are confronting a projected $1.7 billion gap in highway maintenance as costs rise and older roads, bridges and drainage systems require more work.
- Spanberger presents slate of data center regulation proposals, puts first directives in motion
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 on Friday, Sept. 18 to kick off her data center regulation package.
- The battle over data centers isn’t just about data centers, but they’re the battleground we have.
Marvell data center in Culpeper County, Virginia.
- Richard Bland College and Live Casino Hotel Virginia Launch Workforce Training Initiative in Petersburg
Richard Bland College, in partnership with Live!
- PJM Shortlists Dominion’s Heritage-to-Mosby Underground HVDC as Southern Backbone for Northern Virginia Load
RICHMOND / LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — PJM’s 2025 Window 1 southern-cluster shortlist puts four Dominion +/- 525 kV HVDC variants from Heritage to Mosby — about 185 miles and roughly $4.8–$5.0 billion — against cheaper 765 kV and 500 kV overhead portfolios, with proposal 275 leading incremental transfer into NOVA.
- Dominion Pitches Fully Underground HVDC Into Loudoun as PJM Answer to Data Center Load
RICHMOND / LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — Dominion Energy Virginia is asking the PJM Board to greenlight a High Voltage Direct Current project the
- Republican veteran Tony Sabio is on a ‘mission’ to win Virginia’s most Democratic United States House seat
Republican Tony Sabio is vying to replace Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Don Beyer in Virginia's 8th Congressional District race.
- Data Center Development Could Triple Energy Demand if Unconstrained
On Monday, the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission published its long-awaited Report about data centers.
- Attorney General Jay Jones Asks Regulators to Reset Clock on Dominion-NextEra Merger
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones says the companies’ Sept. 14 supplemental filing is a different deal that should restart the SCC’s 180-day review, potentially pushing a decision into March 2027.
- Virginia Lawmakers Press for Tighter Oversight of Data Center Growth
A Virginia congressional proposal would give local governments more tools to manage data center growth, including clearer rules for electricity demand, water use and community impacts.
- Fed raises interest rates for first time in 3 years, battling persistent inflation
Kevin Warsh, now chair of the Federal Reserve, testifies during his Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on April 21, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday for the first time in three years as inflation continues to dog the economy, largely driven by soaring gas and fuel oil prices while the war in Iran drags on.
- Virginia House Bill 47 Aims to Expand Tax Relief for Military and Foreign Service Retirees
House Bill 47, which seeks to broaden state income tax subtractions for retirement benefits earned by uniformed services and United States Foreign Service officers, has been left in the House Finance Committee as the 2026 legislative session progresses.
- Loudoun County to Consider Data Center Pause, Removing By-Right Grandfather Clause
A view of a data center in Loudoun County next to Chick Ford & Ryan Bickel Fields.
- Virginia House Bill 1251 Fails in Subcommittee, Ending Push for Digital Right to Repair Act
House Bill 1251, the Digital Right to Repair Act, has stalled in the Virginia House of Delegates during the 2026 Regular Session.
- Kelly Convirs-Fowler House Bill 188 Millionaire Income Tax Stalls in Committee
RICHMOND, VA – A proposal to impose a new 10 percent income tax bracket on earnings exceeding $1 million stalled in the House Finance Committee during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session, after being incorporated into a broader tax measure that also failed to advance. House Bill 188, introduced by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler of Virginia
- Louise Lucas Presses Data Center Tax Repeal After Virginia Senate Vote
RICHMOND (VA) (AP). Nearly 20 years ago, Virginia offered tax breaks to tech companies on software and equipment.
- After Federal Aviation Administration certification, Washington Manassas Airport to offer commercial flights
The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Monday that the Washington Manassas Airport can begin offering service to certain commercial passenger airlines, opening the door to more flight opportunities for the Washington region, including Northern Virginia. Washington Manassas Airport, formerly Manassas Regional, will become the fourth commercial airport in the Washington region, giving travelers another choice and possibly expanding economic activity, local leaders said.
- Brace yourself for brutal, expensive campaigns in Virginia congressional swing districts this fall
If you live in or near the media markets serving Hampton Roads, the Peninsula up to the Northern Neck and Richmond and its suburbs, prepare for the most acrid, expensive and desperate congressional campaigns you’ve ever endured. Depending on how rancid the winds of current events blowing in from across the Potomac become, you could […]
- Amid major federal shifts, McMahon urges Virginia universities to reform practices, restore public trust
As students prepare to return to class, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon is asking Virginia’s college and university presidents and governing boards to review how they operate and make changes, with a specific focus on whether universities are delivering affordable, high-quality education while maintaining free speech, academic standards, and accountability to the public. McMahon […]
- What candidates have planned for Virginia’s coast could decide a key congressional race
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. With Virginia’s Aug. 4 primaries in the rearview mirror, the ballot is set in one of the nation’s most competitive congressional districts. In the state’s second congressional district, Republican […]
- Loudoun Supervisor Mike Turner Proposes Mandatory Closed-Loop Water Systems for New Data Centers
Loudoun County Supervisor Mike Turner has proposed that all new data centers incorporate mandatory closed-loop water systems. The suggestion targets the significant water consumption associated with these facilities. Data centers account for 10 percent of the county’s potable water. Most existing operations currently rely on systems that could incorporate closed-loop features. The proposal was pre
- Balancing optimism and caution, Spanberger says Virginia’s revenues grew $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2026
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday highlighted Virginia’s financial wins in the fiscal year that ended in July, touting a general revenue fund that increased by $2.1 billion, record investments in public services and a new energy consumption tax lawmakers levied on data centers that is projected to add $600 million to the commonwealth’s coffers in […]
- DEQ study throws cold water on data center development east of I-95
Among the many environmental, energy and economic concerns about the unconstrained spread of data centers in Virginia, the impact on drinking water supplies has ranked fairly low. That changed suddenly last week, with the release of a report that the administration of Gov. Abigail Spanberger seems to have tried to suppress. In compliance with […]
- Loudoun County Neighbors Seek Tighter Rules on Data Center Noise
Data center operations in Loudoun County have generated reports of noise pollution that affect the daily routines of residents in Sterling and surrounding areas. Neighbors describe constant sounds from facility equipment that interfere with rest and general comfort in their homes. These issues have prompted direct appeals to local authorities for greater oversight and regulatory […]
- Loudoun County, other Virginia localities consider hitting the brakes on data center development
Loudoun County, ground zero of Data Center Alley and home to over 250 of the power-hungry digital warehouse facilities, is considering a pause on all new data center project applications, officials said this week. “The community has basically been begging us to do something about the unchecked growth of data centers,” County Supervisor Juli Briskman […]
- Loudoun County Data Centers Linked to Widespread Power Issues
Loudoun County data centers have been associated with power flickering reported across approximately half the United States. A statement from experts describes the facilities as imposing a substantial load on the electrical grid. This load is said to carry the potential for detrimental effects on overall system performance. Details of the Reported Connection The linkage […]
- Governor Spanberger administration seeks public input on new energy plan
Every four years, Virginia law requires the governor’s administration to develop a new energy plan outlining the commonwealth’s energy needs and how the state intends to meet its power generation goals. Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery and Department of Energy representatives have been hosting invite-only stakeholder meetings across […]
- As Virginia officials weigh data center pushback, report details industry’s public service funding
As a single mother balancing work against earning a nursing degree, Yvettrise Hoskie thought homeownership was out of her reach. Now, she’s settling into a Henrico County townhome development. The county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund helped with her downpayment, but the financial assistance was made possible by one of the state’s more controversial neighbors — […]
- Pro-data center industry group behind ad campaign in Virginia
Just days before the Oregon Legislature in March passed a one-year pause on a popular tax incentive program for data centers, a group called Oregon Connects registered as a nonprofit business in the state. Then the ads started appearing. “From homes to hospitals to businesses, Oregon’s data centers are unlocking a smarter power grid for […]
- Goochland residents rebuff data center developer Tract ahead of permit application
On Thursday evening, dozens of Goochland residents donned red t-shirts and held signs that spelled out their displeasure with the idea of multiple data centers being built in the county’s technology overlay district that butts up against Mosaic, a 55+ neighborhood that hosts over 500 homes. “We want to make sure that everyone understands that […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Forced to Foot $17.6 Million Bill for Rapid Rehousing Following Federal Cuts
The state of Virginia is preparing to shoulder a massive financial burden as federal funding for housing programs dries up, forcing local taxpayers to foot the bill. Lawmakers are currently pushing a massive $17.6 million allocation for rapid rehousing efforts in the upcoming biennial budget to cover the sudden gaps left by Washington. Fiscal conservatives […]
- Virginia Democrats Push Massive Budget Expansion Replete With New Taxes and Unprecedented Spending
Governor Abigail Spanberger and Democratic leaders in Richmond have finalized a state budget that drastically expands the size and scope of Virginia government. The newly approved spending plan features a record-shattering $2 billion in new public education funding and creates massive new entitlement programs at the expense of taxpayers. While proponents argue these measures are […]
- Assessing the Massive Budget Allocations for James Madison University
As the Virginia state budget continues to expand, taxpayers are left footing the bill for massive university infrastructure projects that warrant intense financial scrutiny. James Madison University recently secured a staggering $30.5 million specifically allocated for the renovation and furnishing of Johnston Hall on the historic Quad. This massive appropriation raises serious questions about fis
- Data centers want to build their own gas turbines. Would that skirt state renewable energy laws?
Virginia’s surging energy demands require more power generation infrastructure to be built, a slow process that’s delaying new data centers waiting to be connected to the grid. Dominion Energy, the state’s largest utility, has an estimated 70 gigawatts worth of projects in their queue that need more power sources online before they can link to […]
- Prince William County Schools Unveil Budget Reallocating Funds to Robotics and Immersive Technologies
The Prince William County Public Schools system has introduced a comprehensive budget that dramatically shifts its educational investments toward advanced technology. This newly proposed financial plan totals an unprecedented $2.9 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. Officials have structured the budget to prioritize cutting-edge educational tools over traditional infrastructure expansion. The pr
- Senator Bill DeSteph Raises Concerns Over Business Regulations in Virginia
Senator Bill DeSteph has stated that over-regulation and excessive government interference are affecting business growth in Virginia. His comments focus on the potential challenges these factors pose to companies operating in the state. The remarks come amid ongoing discussions about economic conditions and policy impacts. Observers note the questions raised about whether such elements influence [
- Fairfax County Approves FY2027 Budget with Increased Investments in Affordable Housing and Home Repair Programs
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently finalized the comprehensive fiscal year 2027 budget, placing a significant emphasis on community spending, expanding affordable housing, and supporting low-income home repair initiatives. The meticulously crafted financial plan includes an overarching annual investment of approximately $52.7 million directed toward housing stability and sustainable
- Virginia Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Massive Public Sector Compensation Hikes
Taxpayers in the Commonwealth of Virginia are once again being asked to shoulder the burden of expanding government payrolls as lawmakers push forward with aggressive compensation increases. A newly highlighted funding allocation directs $47.7 million toward raising wages for state employees, constitutional officers, and home healthcare workers. This multi-million-dollar expenditure represents jus
- Fairfax County Proposes $49.17 Million Increase in Personnel Services for Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
The Fairfax County Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal includes a significant financial investment in the local government workforce, featuring a net increase of $49.17 million allocated specifically for personnel services. This proposed fiscal adjustment is designed to fully fund vital compensation increases for municipal workers operating across various county departments. Central to this funding b
- Virginia Hoards $585.5 Million Surplus as Taxpayers Demand Relief from Government Bloat
Virginia taxpayers have once again funded a massive government surplus, with Fiscal Year 2026 ending with an excess of $936.3 million in the general fund. Instead of returning these over-collected funds directly to the citizens, state officials plan to incorporate $585.5 million of this surplus into the Fiscal Year 2027 starting balances. This maneuver acts […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Record Two Billion Dollar Education Spending Spree
The recently finalized fiscal year 2027 to 2028 biennium budget for the State of Virginia includes a staggering two billion dollar investment in new public education funding. A central component of this massive financial package is a mandated four percent salary increase for public school teachers and support staff in each of the next two […]
- Virginia Delegate Proposes Historic Recognition for Bicentennial Family Farms
In the 2026 Virginia House of Delegates regular session, Delegate Jason Ballard introduced House Bill 104 to amend state law regarding the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register. The legislation specifically directs the Department of Historic Resources to include bicentennial farms among the types of properties that can be nominated for listing on the register. This step […]