Governor Abigail Spanberger of Virginia unveiled a comprehensive Data Center Accountability Framework on Friday and signed Executive Order 22 to implement it. Environmental advocacy groups described the framework as the strongest and most comprehensive state action on data center regulation to date.
The framework requires data centers to provide transparent information to communities, give residents a voice in local approval processes, protect households from higher energy bills, and meet stricter environmental standards, according to the Governor's announcement.
The rules build on earlier regulatory efforts. Earlier this year, Virginia enacted the nation's first statewide energy consumption tax on data centers. The Governor also urged the State Corporation Commission to require data centers to pay for transmission infrastructure built exclusively for their operations.
"This framework sets a new national standard for the durable, community-centered policies needed to meet this moment," said Jennifer Granholm, former U.S. Secretary of Energy.