Data centers have been making headlines across the Commonwealth in 2025 as local governments rush to join what looks like a stampede of unchecked development in central Virginia. Meanwhile, Northern Virginians have been coming to painful terms with the impacts of the new generation of hyperscale data centers in close proximity to residential developments.
N4C thought it would be interesting to reexamine what our legislators did (or failed to do) in 2025 regarding data center development. How did they handle the balance of economic boon with the need to protect residents from major property value loss, health/safety issues, and environmental dangers popping up like weeds in their back yards?
What didn’t get done?
The short story is that many bills were initiated, mainly originating from areas that have experienced the challenges of living with the new larger, noisier facilities. A quick search of “Data Center” via the Virginia State Legislative Information System (a free public resource) shows forty-nine results (let’s say an even forty because we excluded results that didn’t refer to data centers). All but three of those efforts died in committee, meaning they never got a chance to be considered or voted on.
Some of these issues were bundled into the bills that made it to the floor for a vote and passed. Notably absent from the list is an issue we’re painfully aware of locally: how to address the regional impacts of projects that come close to county borders? Meaning, when one locality decides to build and receives the economic benefit while the adjacent locality is subject to the noise and pollution without the economic benefit.
What did the General Assembly send to the Governor in 2025?
The GA sent three pieces of data center related legislation to Governor Youngkin for signature into law:
HB1601: Data centers; site assessment for high energy use facility – Vetoed
Summary: Before any approval of a rezoning application, special exception application, or special use permit for the siting of a new high energy use facility (HEUF), a locality shall require applicants to perform and submit a site assessment. This ensures that residents, neighbors and decision makers are informed of impacts before making decisions.
- This bill passed in the house 57-40. See how your Delegate voted.
- In the Senate, the companion bill SB1449 passed 26-13-1. See how your Senator voted.
- Locally, Delegate David Owen (R) voted against and Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D) voted for.
- Governor Youngkin (R) vetoed this legislation with the explanation, “This bill limits local discretion and creates unnecessary red tape.”
HB2413: Electric utilities; integrated resource plans, Phase I or Phase II files updated plans, etc. – Vetoed
Summary: Makes changes to the current process for forecasting. Put simply, utilities need to forecast for how much power they need to supply over time and publish their plan to achieve that. It should be facilitated by a third party and paid for by the utility.
- This bill passed the house 65-31. See how your Delegate voted
- In the Senate, the companion bill passed 21-19. See how your Senator voted.
- Locally, Delegate David Owen (R) voted for and Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D) voted for.
- Governor Youngkin vetoed this legislation with the explanation, “The Virginia Clean Economy Act is failing Virginia and those that champion it should stop trying to buttress this failing policy. But rather should be focused on procuring the dependable power needed to meet our growing demand through optimizing for reliability, affordability, and increasingly clean power generation.”
HB2084: Public utilities certain; SCC shall determine if using reasonable classifications of customers. – Accepted
Summary: requires the SCC to use its existing authority during a regular proceeding sometime in the next two years to determine whether Dominion and Appalachian Power are using reasonable customer classifications in setting rates, and if not, whether new classifications are reasonable. The SCC seems to be doing this already anyway, so we’re not sure of the added value? Maybe that’s why the Governor didn’t veto this one.
- This bill passed the house 67-32. See how your Delegate voted.
- In the Senate this passed 23-17. See how your Senator voted.
- Locally, Delegate David Owen (R) voted against and Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D) voted for.
Take Action
- Share this article with a friend
- Pay attention to how your legislators vote rather than just what they say.
- Ask your legislator to patron and support legislation to control data center development and specifically to protect residents from decisions made in neighboring localities.
