Glenn Youngkin is the Governor of Virginia, a state that has become a competing destination for data center development and energy resources in the broader regional market that includes Texas.
Referenced in 3 briefingsLast referenced: July 1, 2026
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July 1, 2026
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Batch Zero Sorts 445 GW of Load Into Winners and Waiters
Virginia shows where captive-hub politics leads. Its General Assembly passed a 1.1 cent/kWh levy on datacenter electric use, projected at $600 million annually, with Gov. Spanberger calling it "only the beginning."
Virginia leads in siting rules and water disclosure requirements, with its legislature sending Governor Spanberger a "high use energy facility" permitting bill.
The $2 billion annual cost of Virginia's datacenter tax exemption is a flashpoint, with approaches ranging from extension to 2050 (outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin's budget) to outright cancellation (Sen. Danica Roem, D-Loudoun).