May 08, 2025 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
The Governor of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, this week vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have installed new oversight measures for planned data centers in the state, in a rejection of calls for increased environmental and community protections.
Democrat Josh Thomas proposed this bill which included requirements for data center developers to conduct extensive impact assessments on water resources, farmland, historic sites, forests, and nearby neighborhoods. In addition, it proposed the introduction of noise studies for residential neighborhoods and schools located within 500 feet of planned data centers, to determine the facility's impact.
However, it would not apply to a site that has existing approval and is seeking to expand or modify the data center, as long as the expansion does not exceed an additional 100MW or more. Lastly, the bill stipulated that its provisions should not prohibit, limit, or otherwise supersede existing local zoning authority.
Youngkin provided his rationale behind the rejection of the bill, stating: “This bill limits local discretion and creates unnecessary red tape. While well-intentioned, the legislation imposes a one-size-fits-all approach on communities that are best positioned to make their own decisions.”
Youngkin went on to note the importance the data center sector plays in the economy of the state, arguing that legislators “should not enact legislation to allow other states to pass us by nor to restrict local governments from developing data centers based on their community's specific circumstances.”
