Virginia Governor Calls for Data Center Guardrails

RICHMOND, VA  -- Governor Abigail Spanberger announced Friday a proposed package of new standards for data centers. The plan aims to bring increased accountability to the unprecedented concentration of data storage facilities across Virginia, with 70 percent of global internet traffic now flowing through the Commonwealth.  

The “Data Center Accountability Framework” includes both executive orders and proposed legislative actions intended to create a coordinated plan that emphasizes better transparency, environmental regulations, and ratepayer protections.  

Following is a statement by Dawone Robinson, managing director for climate and energy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):  

“This is a welcome response to the growing concerns about the existing and long-term impact of the rampant pace of data center development across Virginia. We need to act quickly to protect household affordability, quality of life, and natural resources. This is just the beginning of the process. Governor Spanberger and legislative leaders will need to work with impacted communities to build comprehensive guardrails around data center development that will put Virginia families first.”  

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).