Pins matching tag:VA

Virginia SB 619 / HB 155 requires a State Corporation Commission certificate before data centers over 90 MW can operate. The SCC issues a certificate only if the facility has no material adverse effect on other customers' rates, reliability, or the utility's ability to meet Virginia Clean Economy Act goals. This represents one of the strongest state-level data center permitting requirements in the country.

Virginia HB 897 requires data centers to use emission-free (non-diesel) backup generators and demonstrate commitment to clean energy to qualify for sales and use tax exemptions. The bill passed the House 61-34 and passed the full Senate, making Virginia one of the first states to condition data center tax incentives on environmental performance. Governor Spanberger signed HB 897 into law on April 9, 2026, alongside HB 284/SB 371 (voluntary demand flexibility programs for high-load customers using 25+ MW) and bills to aid low-income utility customers affected by data center energy demand.

Would prohibit localities from granting final approvals for rezonings, special permits, and site plans for new data centers until existing grid interconnection requests are fulfilled or July 1, 2028. Introduced by Del. Irene Shin (D-Fairfax County). A House subcommittee voted to carry the bill over to the 2027 session, effectively killing it for 2026. Virginia's legislature considered over 60 data center-related bills this session.

Virginia SB 253 (Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth) would shift energy infrastructure costs from residential ratepayers to data centers served by Dominion Energy. The SCC estimated residential rates would drop ~3.4% (~$5.52/month) while data center rates would rise ~15.8%. The bill passed the Senate nearly unanimously and the House 66-32 on March 3, 2026. Gov. Abigail Spanberger returned the bill with amendments in mid-April that lawmakers and Dominion say weaken it, including retroactively limiting Dominion's earnings in the current rate cycle. Lawmakers reconvened April 22, 2026 to consider the amendments. If rejected, Spanberger would have to sign or veto as originally passed. VERIFIED 2026-05-26: SB 253 (Lucas cost-shift) was signed by Gov. Spanberger in mid-May 2026 (effective July 1) after the General Assembly rejected most of her amendments; it creates a GS-5 rate class shifting grid-infrastructure costs onto data centers, though one accepted amendment (dropping the PJM cost-shift requirement) weakened it.