Editorial illustration for Virginia Governor Signs Executive Order on Data Centers, AI
Virginia Governor Orders Data Center Crackdown
Virginia Governor Signs Executive Order on Data Centers, AI
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 on Friday, taking direct aim at the data center industry in a state that hosts more server farms than anywhere else on the planet. Loudoun County alone has long carried the label "data center capital of the world," and Spanberger's order signals that Richmond wants more control over how that growth happens next. The order bars executive branch officials from signing nondisclosure agreements tied to data center projects, pushes for faster noise regulations, and forces a review of the backup generators these facilities rely on to keep running during outages.
The order also sets up a task force charged with figuring out how AI might hurt Virginians, from job losses to data privacy breaches, and whether current law even covers those harms. Spanberger is betting that state government can move faster than Congress, which has stalled on AI rules while President Donald Trump has shown little appetite for sweeping federal action. Virginia isn't alone in this. Governors in California, New York and Texas have all made their own moves on data centers and AI oversight in recent months, each testing what state power can actually do here.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ordered the state government to take steps that could empower local communities to have a larger say in data center development and slow down approvals in a state that is already home to the data center capital of the world.
Why this matters
Loudoun County alone hosts something like 70% of the world's internet traffic on any given day, and Virginia's new rules are a signal that the era of data centers getting whatever they want, wherever they want it, is ending. For builders and operators, the NDA ban is the real story here: local officials will now be able to talk publicly about deals, land use, and power draw instead of hiding behind confidentiality clauses that kept residents in the dark. That changes the negotiating table for every future project in the state.
The noise regulation and backup-generator reviews matter too, since diesel generators running to cover grid gaps have been a quiet compliance risk for operators betting on speed over scrutiny. If we're building AI infrastructure, we should read this as a preview, not an outlier. Virginia got here first because it had the most to lose from unchecked growth, and other states watching their own power grids strain under new campuses will likely borrow this playbook.
The task force's findings, due in a few months, will tell us how far Spanberger intends to push this.
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Common Questions Answered
What is the main purpose of Virginia Governor Spanberger's Executive Order 22 on data centers?
Executive Order 22 aims to give local communities greater control over data center development in Virginia by restricting how the state government can operate with the industry. The order specifically bars executive branch officials from signing nondisclosure agreements tied to data center projects, which allows local officials and residents to have more transparency about deals, land use, and power requirements.
Why is the nondisclosure agreement ban considered the most significant aspect of the executive order?
The NDA ban is crucial because it removes confidentiality clauses that previously kept residents in the dark about data center projects and negotiations. By allowing local officials to speak publicly about deals, land use, and power draw, the ban fundamentally changes the negotiating power dynamics between data center operators and communities.
What is Loudoun County's significance in the global data center industry?
Loudoun County holds the label of 'data center capital of the world' and hosts approximately 70% of the world's internet traffic on any given day. Virginia as a whole hosts more server farms than anywhere else on the planet, making it a critical hub for global digital infrastructure.
How does this executive order signal a shift in Virginia's approach to data center growth?
The order indicates that the era of data centers receiving approvals without scrutiny or local input is ending in Virginia. By empowering local communities to have a larger say in development decisions and potentially slowing down approvals, the state is taking a more measured approach to managing the industry's expansion.
Further Reading
- Spanberger signs data center accountability order, creates AI task force - The Verge
- Spanberger issues executive order to hold data centers accountable, form AI task force - Cardinal News
- Virginia governor creates an AI task force and moves to restrain data centers - The Verge
- Gov. Spanberger unveils accountability framework for data centers, launches AI task force - WSET
- Virginia introduces new AI data center regulations - FOX 5 DC
