Data centers; energy generation and storage, report.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on funding or specific actions following the report.

Data Centers Energy Study

This bill directs the Department of Energy to form a work group that will study how data centers can generate energy from non-diesel sources and store it for backup or primary use, as well as explore partnerships with universities.

What This Bill Does

• Directs the Department of Energy to create a work group to examine the cost and feasibility of generating energy from non-diesel sources by data centers.
• Studies if such generated energy can be used as backup or main power supply for data centers.
• Examines how data centers in Virginia can use energy storage resources.
• Looks into potential partnerships with public universities to support advanced energy technology development.
• Asks the work group to submit a report by September 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Department of Energy
• Data center companies in Virginia
• Public institutions of higher education in Virginia

Terms To Know

Work group

A team made up of people from different places who work together on a specific task.

Energy storage resources

Systems that can store energy, like batteries or fuel cells, for later use.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the study will be funded.
• It is unclear what specific actions will come from the report's recommendations.

Official Summary Text

Department of Energy; energy generation and storage by data centers; work group; report.
Directs the Department of Energy to convene a work group to study the cost and feasibility of (i) energy generation by data centers, (ii) the use of such energy generation to serve as backup or primary generation for data centers, and (iii) the use of energy storage resources by data centers in the Commonwealth. The work group shall also examine the potential for partnerships with public universities to support the development of advanced energy technologies. The work group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by September 1, 2026.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to direct the Department of Energy to convene a work group to study energy generation and storage by data centers; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
The Department of Energy (the Department)
shall convene a work group to study
the cost and feasibility of
energy generation
from

non-diesel sources by
data centers
,
the potential to use
such
energy
generation for on-site backup
or as a primary electric generation source for data centers
, and the use of energy storage resources by data centers
in the Commonwealth
.
The work group shall examine (i
) the potential for partnerships with public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth to support the development of advanced energy technologies, including energy storage resources, linear generators, renewable biodiesel fuels, combined heat and power resources, and
hydrogen fuel cells powered by renewable resources, to serve as backup or primary energy generation resources
for data centers and (ii) make recommendations to incentivize the use of such technologies by data centers in the Commonwealth.

The work group shall include representatives from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the data center industry, electric utilities, relevant state agencies, and other interested stakeholder
s.
The
work group shall submit a report of its
findings and recommendations
to the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor no later than
September 1, 2026.