Technology
Virginia governor takes aim at data center sprawl with new AI task force and accountability rules
Gov. Spanberger's executive order seeks to empower local communities and slow approvals in the nation's data center hub.
The Verge
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed an executive order designed to give residents and local authorities greater control over data center development, marking a significant shift in a state that hosts more data centers than anywhere else in the world.
What the executive order does#
Executive Order 22 implements several restrictions on the industry's expansion. The order bars state officials from signing non-disclosure agreements on data center projects, tightens noise regulations, and mandates a review of backup power generation practices. Alongside these measures, the state established an AI task force tasked with examining workforce displacement risks, data privacy concerns, and how existing laws might address AI-related harms.
A broader framework for accountability#
Beyond the executive order, Spanberger unveiled a "Data Center Accountability Framework" that sets additional policy priorities:
- Eliminating automatic approvals that previously allowed developers to build without further oversight
- Reducing state-level incentives for the industry
- Establishing environmental safeguards
- Protecting residents from rising energy costs tied to data center operations
Part of a broader state movement#
Virginia's action reflects growing state-level momentum on data center and AI governance. California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued his own executive order this week focused on AI safety, while New York and Texas have previously taken steps to regulate rapid data center growth—a bipartisan pattern suggesting states are stepping in as federal action stalls.
