<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.4, relating to local approval of data centers; temporary moratorium.</p>
Summary
HB1515 would place a temporary moratorium on local government approval of new data center projects in Virginia. Specifically, it would prohibit any locality from granting final approval for rezoning, special exception, special use permit, site plan, or plan of development applications for a new data center until the earlier of two events: all pending electric utility interconnection requests from data center customers are fulfilled, or July 1, 2028.
The bill is aimed at slowing or pausing new data center siting decisions while utility interconnection demand is addressed. It does not ban data centers outright, but it would effectively freeze local land-use approvals for new facilities statewide for a defined period or until the electric grid backlog condition is met.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to Title 15.2 of the Code of Virginia governing local land-use approvals for data centers. It would limit localities’ authority to approve certain zoning and development applications for new data centers, creating a statewide temporary approval moratorium tied to electric utility interconnection capacity. The practical effect would be to affect developers, local planning bodies, and electric utilities by delaying new data center projects and potentially reducing pressure on the interconnection queue.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests the bill was not advanced aggressively and instead was continued to the next session in the Rules Committee by voice vote, with no recorded floor votes or committee transcript debate provided. That procedural outcome suggests cautious or uncertain support rather than strong momentum. Because no discussion transcript is available, there is no direct evidence of public arguments for or against the bill in the materials provided.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the balance between managing data center growth and protecting local development authority versus supporting continued investment and economic development in the Commonwealth. Supporters would likely view the moratorium as a way to address electric grid constraints and interconnection backlogs before approving more projects, while opponents may see it as an unnecessary statewide restriction on local land-use decisions that could slow economic activity and data center expansion. The bill’s tie to pending utility interconnection requests also suggests potential concern from utilities, developers, and local governments about implementation and project timing.