Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s recent Executive Order 22 changing the way data centers are evaluated in the commonwealth is doing little to slow the ongoing growth of the critical infrastructure that drives Virginia’s economy and makes possible the way people interact, work, and play. Here’s the latest on the ongoing soap opera to slow the industry that has powered Virginia’s economy.
Moratoria Are Back
Whether political bluster or reactionary response to swelling populist anger in Loudoun, Sen. Russet Perry, D-Loudoun will be proposing “Senate Bill 843 [that] would prohibit localities from approving data center applications for three years, starting July 1, 2027. State agencies — including the State Corporation Commission, which regulates utilities — would not be allowed to issue permits or other approvals for data center development, or for energy infrastructure meant to serve them.”
The idea is to give Virginia time to create a “comprehensive statewide plan.”
Set aside for a moment stripping the rights of localities to decide the businesses they want within their boundaries, where does one imagine the data center industry will be in three years? The idea that the demand for the services they make possible is going to slow is naive at best, considering the average person makes use of data centers between 58 and 87 times a day.
That growth is going to continue, and Virginia with moratoria will find itself moving from leading in this industry — and raking in all the benefits it offers — to being bypassed. Texas, Georgia, Illinois, California, Oregon, and the New York Tri-state area are poised to grow.
Stafford Delays Decision on Major Project
A major data center project in Stafford County that would generate $245 million annually for the county (about 20 percent of the county’s budget), invest more than $80 million in County water infrastructure projects, keep 55% of the site as open space, and use treated wastewater for cooling is on hold for now. The planning commission was scheduled to vote on the project Wednesday night, but the vote has been moved to November to “allow for further review and refinement of several aspects of the applications to ensure the matter is fully prepared for consideration by the Planning Commission.”
Stafford residents have seen their real estate tax bills climb 57 percent in just five years. It remains one of the fastest growing counties in Virginia and faces significant challenges funding the county’s educational system, and finding the money to fill the gap created by property tax relief afforded disabled Vets.
While the Planning Commission can recommend to approve or disapprove, the decision ultimately rests with the Board of Supervisors, recently voted to approve the Accokeek Center data center project.
