Spanberger announces tightened data center restrictions, clean energy mandates in Virginia

The US state of Virginia is implementing stricter regulations on data centers in response to growing political criticism, Governor Abigail Spanberger announced on Friday. Virginia, which hosts the world's largest concentration of data centers, is rolling out a set of measures that include prohibiting non-disclosure agreements and mandating clean energy usage for new projects.

These changes come after similar actions by governors in New York, Texas, and Pennsylvania to regulate the rapid growth of data centers, which are often powered by artificial intelligence. Virginia's new "Data Center Accountability Framework" aims to address public concerns about data center secrecy and the environmental impact of these energy-intensive facilities.

Spanberger explained that the ban on non-disclosure agreements will apply to projects over 25 megawatts in size. Additionally, the framework includes incentives for data centers to install renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power backup generators, replacing traditional natural gas or diesel-powered systems. The framework will require approval from state legislators before implementation next year.