Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 on September 18, rolling out what her office calls a data center accountability framework for the state, home to the world's largest concentration of data centers.
The order bans state agencies from entering into non-disclosure agreements for commercial data center projects and eliminates by-right approval, requiring local approval for facilities exceeding 25 megawatts. It also ends state subsidies in site development programs and removes large data centers from fast-track permitting. On the environmental side, the order sets energy efficiency, water-use and land-impact standards, calls for a review of diesel backup generators in favor of cleaner alternatives, and directs the expedited development of noise regulations.
The framework also targets how data center costs are spread across the grid, calling for equitable allocation of transmission and generation costs to data centers, stronger upfront financial commitments from developers, and allocation of PJM Interconnection costs to data centers. It sets grid stability standards, limits on-site natural gas generation, and prioritizes grid access for clean energy investments.
The order prioritizes local hiring, Virginia business procurement, responsible contractor standards, apprenticeship programs and project labor agreement support. It also creates an AI Task Force to address workforce displacement, data privacy and cybersecurity risks tied to the industry's growth. "Virginia should be leading the nation in setting the highest standards for this industry. And now, I believe we are doing just that," Spanberger said. She said she will work with the General Assembly to write the standards permanently into state law.