HB507 • 2026

Data centers; permit requirements, emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 10.1 a section numbered 10.1-1322.6, relating to permit requirements for data centers; emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: McAuliff
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how existing data center regulations will interact with these new requirements, leaving this as an open question.

Data Center Permit Requirements and Emission Limits

This act adds new rules for data center permits, requiring stricter emissions standards for backup generators starting July 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new section to Virginia's environmental code about permit requirements for data centers.
Requires the Department of Environmental Quality not to issue air permits for data center applications after July 1, 2026, unless backup generators meet Tier 4 equivalent emission standards.

Who It Names or Affects

Data centers applying for air permits after July 1, 2026
The Department of Environmental Quality

Terms To Know

Tier 4 equivalent: A backup generator that meets specific standards to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.
Engine-generator set: A combination of an electrical generator and an engine used together as a single piece of equipment.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens to data centers applying for permits before July 1, 2026.
It is unclear how existing data center regulations will interact with these new requirements.

Bill History

2026-04-08 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 397 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-08 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0397)
2026-04-01 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB507)
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-31 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-31 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
2026-03-31 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-30 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-30 House
Enrolled
2026-03-30 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB507ER)
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A)
2026-03-09 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-05 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-05 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-05 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-03 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (10-Y 5-N)
2026-02-18 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-18 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
2026-02-17 House
Read third time and passed House (61-Y 34-N 0-A)
2026-02-16 Natural Resources
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB507)
2026-02-16 House
Read second time
2026-02-16 House
committee substitute agreed to
2026-02-16 House
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
2026-02-13 House
Read first time
2026-02-11 Natural Resources
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)
2026-02-11 Natural Resources
House subcommittee offered
2026-02-11 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (16-Y 6-N)
2026-02-11 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Committee substitute printed 26107698D-H1
2026-02-09 Natural Resources
Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources
2026-02-09 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB507)
2026-01-12 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104969D
2026-01-12 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Permit requirements for data centers; emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.
Prohibits the Department of Environmental Quality from issuing an air permit for any application submitted for a data center on or after July 1, 2026, unless the emission limit for each engine-generator, defined in the bill, established by such permit is equal to or less than the emissions achieved by a Tier 4 equivalent engine-generator.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 10.1 a section numbered
10.1-1322.6
, relating to permit requirements for data centers; emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 10.1 a section numbered
10.1-1322.6
as follows:
§
10.1-1322.6
. Permits for data centers; emission limits for certain engine-generator sets.
A. As used in this section:
"Data center" means the same as that term is defined in subdivision A 43 of §
58.1-3506
.
"Diesel oxidation catalyst" means a flow-through exhaust device that contains a honeycomb structure covered with a layer of chemical catalyst containing small amounts of precious metal such as platinum or palladium that interact with and oxidize pollutants, including carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons, in the exhaust stream, thereby reducing carbon monoxide emissions.
"Diesel particulate filter" means an emission control technology that reduces particulate matter emissions by trapping the particles in a flow filter substrate and periodically removes the collected particles by either physical action or by oxidizing or burning off the particles in a process called regeneration.
"Engine-generator set" or "gen-set" means the combination of an electrical generator and an engine mounted together to form a single piece of equipment.
"Selective catalytic reduction" means a control device that reduces the exhaust gas concentration of nitrogen oxides by injecting an ammonia solution or urea into the exhaust gas stream, which in the presence of a catalyst, reacts with the nitrogen oxides to form nitrogen gas and water vapor.
"Tier 4 equivalent" means a gen-set with a selective catalytic reduction system or equivalent for nitrogen oxides control, a diesel oxidation catalyst system or equivalent for carbon monoxide control, and a diesel particulate filter or equivalent for particulate matter control.
B. For any application submitted for a data center on or after July 1, 2026, for a permit issued by the Department pursuant to this chapter, including coverage under any general permit, the Department shall not issue such permit unless the emission limit for each gen-set established by such permit is equal to or less than the emissions achieved by a Tier 4 equivalent gen-set.
C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Department from (i) determining the Best Available Control Technology, Lowest Achievable Emission Rate, Reasonably Available Control Technology, any New Source Performance Standard, or any National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants or (ii) establishing in a permit issued by the Department pursuant to this chapter more stringent emission limits than those achieved by a Tier 4 equivalent gen-set.