New law: big data centers must study noise before local approval (HB 153) · April 13, 2026
Starting July 1, 2026, before a county, city or town approves a rezoning, special exception or special use permit for a new 'high energy use facility' (one expected to need 100 megawatts or more of power), the applicant must submit a study of the facility's noise on homes and schools within 500 feet of the property line. The locality may also ask for a study of effects on ground and surface water, farmland, parks, registered historic sites and forests. The power company must also tell the locality which substations will serve the site and what power line voltage it needs. The law does not take away any local zoning power. Expansions of an already-approved site that add less than 100 megawatts are exempt. Source

New law: cleaner backup generators for new data center air permits (HB 507) · April 8, 2026
For any data center air permit application sent to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on or after July 1, 2026, DEQ may not issue the permit unless each diesel backup generator meets an emission limit at least as clean as a 'Tier 4 equivalent' generator (one with filters and catalysts that cut smog-forming gases, carbon monoxide and soot). DEQ can still set stricter limits. Source

New law: regulators must make sure data centers are not subsidized by other customers (HB 1393 / SB 253) · May 14, 2026
In Dominion Energy's rate reviews, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) must take all reasonable steps to make sure costs for customers using 25 megawatts or more at a steady high rate (mostly data centers) are not paid by other customers, and that other customers' rates are not hurt by them. Factories and warehouses (not data storage) with at least 200 workers could choose by July 1, 2026, to stay on their old rate. The same law raises Dominion's required help for low-income, elderly and disabled customers to $156 million to $204 million from July 2026 to July 2038. The Governor proposed changes; the bills became law May 14, 2026. Source

New law: data centers asked to cut power use when the grid is strained (HB 284 / SB 371) · April 8, 2026
By January 15, 2027, Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power must each ask the SCC to approve a voluntary 'demand flexibility' program for customers using 25 megawatts or more (mostly data centers). These customers would lower or shift their power use at peak times. The SCC must decide by November 30, 2027. The cost of payments to these customers may not be passed to other customers. Source

New law: water utilities must report how much water they sell to data centers (HB 496 / SB 553) · April 13, 2026
Starting January 1, 2027, big water users that supply water to others (like public water systems) must report, every reporting period, the total water they gave each month to data centers that have a DEQ air permit, with drinking water and reused (reclaimed) water reported separately. Source

New law: electric co-ops can let big customers pay to build their own substations (HB 1191) · March 31, 2026
An electric cooperative may agree with a member using at least 20 megawatts to build a substation for that member only, at the member's sole cost. The SCC must keep these costs out of other members' rates. Source

Bills held over to 2027: more data center rules · March 14, 2026
46 data center bills from 2026 were carried over to the 2027 session (starts January 2027). These include SB 339 (an SCC case to check if big power users are being subsidized), SB 336 (study limiting older 'Tier 2' diesel generators at data centers) and HB 1502 (a study of pollution from backup generators). The Governor said she will also ask lawmakers in 2027 to ban secret deals (NDAs) by local governments and to require local approval for any data center using more than 25 megawatts. Source

2025: data center siting bills vetoed (HB 1601 / SB 1449) · May 2, 2025
In 2025 lawmakers passed bills to require site studies (noise, water, farmland, historic sites) for big data centers. Then-Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed them on May 2, 2025. A version passed again in 2026 as HB 153 and was signed. Source

Executive Order 22: Data Center Accountability Framework · Sept 18, 2026
On September 18, 2026, Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22. It bans state agencies and state employees from signing secret deals (NDAs) about data center projects (local governments are not covered). It stops state discretionary programs, like the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program, from helping new data centers expecting 25 megawatts or more. It tells DEQ to speed up noise and water rules and review the combined effects of backup generators (180 days), asks for a toolkit to help localities negotiate with data centers (120 days), and asks Virginia Energy for siting guidance on reused land and historic and scenic areas (240 days). It does not stop data centers or change local zoning power. Source

💡 Who pays for the power

Dominion's new rate class for big power users (GS-5), starts 2027 · Nov 26, 2025
On November 26, 2025, the SCC created a new rate class, called GS-5, for Dominion Energy customers that need 25 megawatts or more. It starts January 1, 2027. These customers must sign 14-year contracts and pay for at least 85% of the power line (transmission and distribution) capacity and 60% of the power plant (generation) capacity they sign up for, even if they use less. The SCC said this is to help protect other customers from the costs of building for data centers. Source

Dominion home bills going up in 2026 and 2027 · Nov 26, 2025
In the same November 26, 2025 decision, the SCC approved a base rate increase for a typical Dominion home customer of $11.24 a month in 2026 and $2.36 more a month in 2027 ($13.60 total, about 9%). Dominion had asked for $19.57. Source

Appalachian Power: 14-year contracts for big new customers · June 2026
In June 2026 the SCC set new rules for large new customers of Appalachian Power in Virginia: 14-year contracts and minimum charges. It did not create a separate customer class like Dominion's. Appalachian Power has signed 540 megawatts of data center demand in Virginia since 2024 and is talking with 36 more large customers wanting about 25,000 megawatts, more than three times its recent peak demand of 7,200 megawatts. Source

State study: data centers could raise home power bills · Dec 9, 2024
A December 2024 study by JLARC (the General Assembly's watchdog) estimated that for a typical Dominion home using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month, power plant and power line costs tied to data center growth could add about $33 a month by 2040 if growth is not limited, or about $14 a month if growth is half as fast. It said rate rules were not designed to protect other customers from the very large cost increases driven by data centers. Source

💵 Tax breaks

Sales tax break on data center equipment (still in place) · June 29, 2026
Data centers do not pay Virginia sales tax on computer equipment and software, including chillers and backup generators, if the site invests at least $150 million and creates at least 50 jobs paying at least 1.5 times the local average wage (10 jobs in a 'distressed' locality), under a deal with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The break runs through June 30, 2035. JLARC found it was worth $928 million to the industry in fiscal year 2024; other estimates put it at about $1.6 billion a year now. In 2026 the Senate wanted to end it, but the final budget kept it. Source

New tax on data center electricity (July 2026 to June 2028) · July 1, 2026
The 2026-2028 state budget (law since June 29, 2026) adds a tax of 1.1 cents per kilowatt-hour on electricity used by data centers, starting July 1, 2026. The owner, operator or tenant of the data center pays it. Total collections are capped at $600 million a year; any extra is refunded. It ends after June 30, 2028 unless lawmakers renew it. Source

🤐 Secret deals and public records

Secret deals (NDAs) are common for local data center deals · Sept 18, 2026
No Virginia law stops counties, cities or towns from signing secret deals (NDAs) with data center developers. A University of Mary Washington researcher found NDAs in at least 25 of 31 Virginia data center projects studied. Executive Order 22 (September 2026) bans NDAs only for state agencies; the Governor plans to ask lawmakers in 2027 to ban them for local governments. Source

How to get public records (Virginia FOIA) · 2026
Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, public records are open to citizens of Virginia and to newspapers, magazines, radio and TV with an audience in Virginia. People who live outside Virginia do not have a legal right to records (some offices answer anyway). Your request must describe the records clearly; you do not have to mention the law. The office must answer within 5 working days: give the records, say it is withholding some (and cite the law), or take 7 more working days if it explains why. It may charge reasonable costs and must give an estimate if you ask. Source

Why some data center records are held back · 2026
Virginia FOIA lets public bodies withhold business information given to them under a promise of confidentiality for economic development, and papers about businesses considering locating in Virginia when bargaining is involved and release would hurt the public body's finances. Localities often use this for early data center talks. Source

State agencies may no longer sign data center NDAs · Sept 18, 2026
Since September 18, 2026, state executive branch agencies, boards and employees may not sign or require NDAs for data center projects (Executive Order 22). Source

💧 Water

Who approves the water a data center uses · Dec 9, 2024
Most Virginia data centers buy water from a local water utility (often a county or city authority), so the local utility and its board decide whether to serve them. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulates large water withdrawals from rivers and groundwater and requires permits for large withdrawals. Water is tighter in Groundwater Management Areas (eastern Virginia). JLARC found most data centers in 2023 used about as much water as a large office building or less, but use is growing. Source

New: monthly water sales to data centers must be reported (from 2027) · April 13, 2026
From January 1, 2027, water utilities must report to DEQ how much drinking water and reused water they provide each month to data centers with an air permit (HB 496 / SB 553). Executive Order 22 also told DEQ to speed up water rules for data centers. Source

🌫️ Air and generators

Air permits for backup generators (DEQ) · July 1, 2026
DEQ issues air permits for diesel backup generators at data centers. Northern Virginia data centers have over 4,000 diesel generators with more than 11 gigawatts of capacity. For applications from July 1, 2026, the law (HB 507) and new DEQ guidance require Tier 4-level emissions limits. DEQ's guidance says it no longer assumes these generators run only in emergencies, because they may run during grid alerts and demand programs. Draft permits are posted for public comment. Source

Review of generators and noise rules ordered · Sept 18, 2026
Executive Order 22 (September 18, 2026) told DEQ to review the combined effects of data center backup generators and to speed up noise rules, with work plans due within 180 days. Source

🙋 How to have your say

Who decides a data center near you · 2026
Virginia has no townships. Counties zone land outside towns through the county Board of Supervisors (after a planning commission review). Independent cities (like Manassas or Virginia Beach) zone their own land through City Council; cities are not part of any county. Incorporated towns (like Leesburg or Culpeper) zone inside town limits through Town Council. Many data centers are allowed 'by right' in industrial zones, which means no public vote is needed; others need a rezoning, special exception or special use permit, which needs a public hearing. The state SCC decides power plants and big power lines; DEQ decides air and water permits. Source

How zoning hearings work · 2026
Rezonings and special use permits need public hearings at the planning commission and the governing body. Notice must be published twice in a local newspaper: the first no more than 28 days before the hearing and the second at least 5 days before. Nearby owners also get written notice. Anyone can speak or send written comments. For data centers needing 100 megawatts or more, ask to see the required noise study and the power company's substation form (HB 153). Source

Appeal deadlines: 30 days · 2026
To challenge a zoning decision by the Board of Supervisors, City Council or Town Council, you must file in the circuit court within 30 days of the decision. This deadline is strict. To appeal a zoning administrator's ruling, you usually go first to the Board of Zoning Appeals; its decisions can be taken to circuit court within 30 days. Source

How to ask for records · 2026
Virginia residents can send a FOIA request by email or letter to the county, city or town FOIA officer. Ask for records like data center NDAs, emails with developers, and site studies. The office has 5 working days to respond. Only Virginia citizens and Virginia media have a legal right to records. Source

Comment at the State Corporation Commission · 2026
You can file a public comment on any open SCC case (for example Dominion's rate reviews or demand flexibility programs) online on the SCC's 'Submit Public Comments' page. Search cases by number on SCC Docket Search. Source

Comment on air and water permits · 2026
DEQ posts draft air and water permits for public comment, usually 30 days. You can ask for a public hearing during the comment period. Watch DEQ's public notices and the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall for meetings. Source

🧾 Help with your bills

Fuel Assistance: help with heating bills · 2026
The Energy Assistance Program helps pay heating bills once a year. Apply from the second Tuesday in October to the second Friday in November, online at CommonHelp, by phone at 855-635-4370, or at your local Department of Social Services. Notices go out in late December. Source

Crisis Assistance: heating emergencies · 2026
Helps with a heating emergency: no heat, a cut-off notice or unsafe equipment. Equipment help November 1 to March 15; fuel and utility bills January to March 15. Source

Cooling Assistance: summer bills and air conditioners · June 15, 2026
Helps pay electric bills for cooling, or buy or fix air conditioning. Applications June 15 to August 17 each year (2026: June 15 to August 17). Source

PIPP: power bill capped at a share of your income · June 1, 2026
For Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power customers. Your monthly electric payment is 10% of income if you heat with electricity, or 6% if you heat another way. If you pay on time in full, 1/12 of your old past-due balance is forgiven each month. Apply at CommonHelp or your local Department of Social Services. Source

📞 Who to contact

State Corporation Commission (SCC) · Oct 7, 2026
Sets electric rates and rules for Dominion Energy, Appalachian Power and co-ops, including data center rate classes. Approves power plants and big power lines. Takes public comments on cases. Source

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) · Oct 7, 2026
Issues air permits for data center backup generators and permits for large water withdrawals; will collect monthly data center water reports from 2027. Source

Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) · Oct 7, 2026
The General Assembly's watchdog. Wrote the 2024 study of data center costs and effects. Source

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) · Oct 7, 2026
Signs the agreements data centers need to get the sales tax break. Source

Virginia Energy (Department of Energy) · Oct 7, 2026
State energy agency. Under Executive Order 22 it writes siting guidance for data centers. Source

Department of Social Services (DSS) · Oct 7, 2026
Runs energy bill help (Fuel, Crisis, Cooling Assistance) and PIPP. Apply at commonhelp.virginia.gov or 855-635-4370. Source

Virginia FOIA Council · Oct 7, 2026
Free state office that answers questions about public records and open meetings law. Source

Virginia General Assembly (LIS) · Oct 7, 2026
Bill tracking for state laws on data centers. Find your legislators and follow 2027 bills. Source

Counties

Bold counties have at least one data center project.