The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) supports HB1515, introduced by Delegate Irene Shin last Friday. This bill aligns with PEC’s data center reform efforts to pause approvals of hyperscale data center proposals. By requiring a temporary moratorium on local data center approvals until pending requests for interconnection to the grid have been fulfilled, this bill would provides a critically needed pause to let the infrastructure catch up.  

With numerous data centers built in Northern Virginia and waiting for power and many other facilities under construction, this is a practical and reasonable approach. Combined with additional oversight, transparency, ratepayer protection, and sustainability and mitigation measures, it would bring transformational data center reform to what has become a dangerously chaotic situation.

PEC also supports HB155, Electric utilities; certificate of operation for high-load facilities introduced by Delegate Josh Thomas, which continues to be critical for planning and mitigating impacts to ratepayers and the environment. 

HB155 would require that, before the State Corporation Commission approves a certificate of operation, it reviews potential grid capacity and reliability issues, effects on other customer bills, environmental and public health impacts, and alignment with state clean energy policy. This certificate of operation, in combination with the pause proposed in HB1515, would allow for proper planning and bring discipline to what has been a haphazard approach.

Also see this PEC Op Ed on HB155.

Media Contact: Mike Doble, PEC Communications, [email protected]

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The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.