Local approval of data centers; temporary moratorium.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the consequences if pending requests for electricity connections are not completed by July 1, 2028.

Temporary Pause on New Data Centers

This law stops local governments from approving new data centers until all pending requests for electricity connections are completed or until July 1, 2028.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a new rule to the Virginia Code that puts a hold on approvals for new data center projects in local areas.
• Requires localities to wait before giving final approval for rezoning, special exceptions, permits, site plans, or development plans for new data centers until all pending requests for electricity connections are completed or until July 1, 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local governments in Virginia
• Companies planning to build new data centers

Terms To Know

Data center

A facility used for the storage, management, and dissemination of data.

Rezoning

Changing the use or zoning classification of a piece of land.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if pending requests for electricity connections are not completed by July 1, 2028.
• It is unclear how this law will affect existing data center projects that have already started the approval process.

Official Summary Text

Local approval of data centers; temporary moratorium.
Prohibits final approval of any application for a rezoning, special exception, special use permit, site plan, or plan of development for the siting of a new data center by a locality until the earlier of (i) the fulfillment of all pending requests for interconnection to distribution service by an electric utility customer that is a data center or (ii) July 1, 2028.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered
15.2-2209.4
, relating to local approval of data centers; temporary moratorium.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
15.2-2209.4
as follows:

§
15.2-2209.4
. Siting of data centers
;
temporary morator
ium
.

A.
For the purpose of this section
:

"
D
at
a center" means the same as that term
is defined in subdivision A
43 of §
58.1-3506
.

B.
No locality shall grant final approval of any application fo
r
a rezoning, special exception, special use permit
,
site plan
,
or plan of de
velopment
for the siting of a new data center
until
the earlier of (i) the fulfillment of all pending requests for interconnection to distribution service
by an electric utility customer that is a data center
or (ii) July 1, 2028.