Virginia governor signs executive order to curb data center growth and create AI task force

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 to address data center growth and AI-related risks, including workforce displacement and data privacy. The order bans executive branch officials from signing nondisclosure agreements for data center projects, requires expedited noise regulations, and mandates reviews of backup power operations.

The executive action also establishes an AI task force tasked with evaluating how state government can address risks to Virginians, including workforce displacement and data privacy issues, and determining how existing law can be applied to AI harms.

In addition to the executive order, Spanberger unveiled a Data Center Accountability Framework that aims to eliminate "by-right approval" processes that allow developers to build on certain land without additional approvals, remove some state subsidies, establish environmental guardrails, and safeguard residents against increased energy prices associated with data centers.

The policy steps follow actions by other governors, including California’s Gavin Newsom, New York’s Kathy Hochul, and Texas’s Greg Abbott, who have also issued executive actions to address AI safety or data center growth.