Virginia Launches AI Task Force and Data Center Accountability Framework to Strengthen Oversight

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22, creating an AI task force to assess risks from rapid AI development in jobs, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Officials also released a Data Center Accountability Framework to strengthen oversight of data center construction.

The framework bans state executive agencies from signing non-disclosure agreements for commercial data center projects, speeds up noise regulations, and reviews backup diesel generators. Environmentally, it plans stricter standards for energy efficiency, water use, and land use, requiring data centers to adopt cleaner backup power.

On energy costs, the state wants utilities to assign more transmission and generation costs to large power users like data centers, avoiding cost shifts to regular customers. Data centers must also bear some PJM interconnection costs and provide stronger upfront funding commitments.

Virginia is now one of the most concentrated data center regions in the US. Some measures take effect immediately, while others need approval at the 2027 legislative session. Local environmental groups support the plan, but critics say it's not strict enough.