Data Center Reformers Lobby Richmond as Virginia Awaits Legislative Action

Advocates push for new regulations on data centers as concerns grow over energy use, tax breaks, and environmental impacts.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Over 200 members of the Data Center Reform Coalition gathered in Richmond on Monday for the group's annual Lobby Day, urging Virginia lawmakers to pass new legislation that would increase state oversight, transparency, ratepayer protections, and reform tax incentives for the rapidly growing data center industry in the Commonwealth.

Why it matters

Data centers have become a major driver of energy demand and development in parts of Virginia, raising concerns about their impact on electricity rates, the electric grid, water usage, and nearby communities. The coalition is pushing for reforms to better manage the industry's growth and mitigate its effects on ratepayers and the environment.

The details

The coalition is supporting several bills in the Virginia General Assembly this session, including measures that would require data centers over 25 megawatts to obtain a certificate of operation, mandate demand flexibility programs for utilities, enhance transparency around water usage and environmental impacts, and tie tax incentives to energy efficiency and pollution reduction standards.

  • The Data Center Reform Coalition held its annual Lobby Day on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  • The Virginia General Assembly is currently considering the coalition's proposed legislation.

The players

Data Center Reform Coalition

A coalition of over 50 organizations and hundreds of advocates across Virginia concerned about the impacts of unconstrained data center development.

Piedmont Environmental Council

A Charlottesville-based environmental organization that is a member of the Data Center Reform Coalition.

Rob McGinnis

Senior Land Use Field Representative for Albemarle and Greene Counties at the Piedmont Environmental Council.

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What they’re saying

“A lot that is because we just simply don't have a handle on the energy consumption use planning going forward. There's just simply too much load demand coming from data center proposals, so what you get is gas-fueled energy generation proposals.”

— Rob McGinnis, Senior Land Use Field Representative, Piedmont Environmental Council (Cville Right Now)

What’s next

The Virginia General Assembly is expected to vote on the coalition's proposed legislation in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

As data centers continue to proliferate across Virginia, there is growing pressure on state lawmakers to enact new regulations and oversight to better manage the industry's impact on energy, the environment, and local communities.