Virginia is no longer rolling out the red carpet for data center developers without a fight. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22, a move that fundamentally shifts power from state officials to local communities in Loudoun County and beyond. The order bans executive branch officials from signing nondisclosure agreements regarding these projects, forcing transparency into deals that have long been shrouded in secrecy. It also mandates expedited noise regulations and a thorough review of backup-generation operations. For residents who have lived next to humming server farms for years, this is a direct response to complaints about quality of life that were previously ignored in the rush to become the data center capital of the world.
The governor didn’t stop at transparency. She unveiled a “Data Center Accountability Framework” that eliminates “by-right approval,” a zoning loophole that allowed developers to build on certain lands without additional community input. This change alone could slow down the breakneck pace of construction that has defined Northern Virginia’s landscape. The framework also targets state subsidies, aiming to remove financial incentives that favored rapid expansion over environmental stewardship. By establishing stricter environmental guardrails, the state hopes to safeguard residents against the spike in energy prices often tied to massive power draws from these facilities. It is a clear signal that the era of unchecked growth is ending.
This isn’t just a Virginia story. It is part of a growing trend where states are stepping in because federal leadership remains absent. While Congress and President Donald Trump have been slow to act on AI and infrastructure policy, governors like California’s Gavin Newsom and New York’s Kathy Hochul are issuing their own executive orders. Spanberger also established an AI task force to evaluate risks like workforce displacement and data privacy. This dual approach tackles both the physical infrastructure and the digital implications, recognizing that you cannot separate the servers from the software they run.
Not everyone is satisfied, though. The Piedmont Environmental Council called the measures insufficient, noting that they largely address standards for new builds while ignoring the impacts of existing facilities. PEC president Chris Miller pointed out that communities are still dealing with the “ongoing impacts piling up now.” Spanberger’s moves may slow future approvals, but they do little to alleviate the current strain on grids and neighborhoods. The real test will be whether local governments actually use this new authority to push back, or if economic pressure keeps the cranes moving.
