Va. state senator seeks to keep future data centers away from residential areas

By: Shannon Heckt

Outlets: Virginia Mercury

Published: January 27, 2026

Words: 562

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

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Legislation is advancing through the General Assembly to restrict future data centers to industrially zoned areas.

Several of the bills are aimed at helping localities manage the industry as well as temper community concerns over environmental impacts, sound, and viewshed issues around data centers. One bill looks to place data centers near manufacturers and warehouses – far away from commercial and residential communities.

“What we’re trying to have happen is have localities acknowledge that data …

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