A Virginia bill (SB 1449 / HB 1601) aimed at requiring environmental and community impact studies for large data centers (100+ megawatts) was vetoed by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The legislation, which passed both chambers, would have impacted data centers and other facilities requiring at least 100 megawatts of power. The bill would have required site assessments examining sound volume levels within 500 feet of schools and residences, along with measuring potential effects on ground and surface water, agricultural resources, parks, registered historic sites and forest land on or around proposed facilities.
Youngkin wrote in his veto that local governments, not the General Assembly, should be making such decisions, based on their specific circumstances, reports Cardinal News. An analysis done for the state shows that data centers support about “74,000 jobs, $5.5 billion in labor income, and $9.1 billion to [gross domestic product] annually,” and Virginia should not make laws that would allow other states to surpass it as “the data center capital of the world,” Youngkin added.
Ebbin said that he and Thomas will work together again next year to bring back the legislation. Youngkin, who Virginia law limits to one term, will be out of office by then.
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