RICHMOND – Today, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters joined Governor Spanberger and stakeholders as she released a comprehensive “Data Center Accountability Framework,” which will strengthen transparency, expand environmental protections, ensure cleaner backup and onsite power generation, lower energy costs for Virginians, and expand clean energy deployment.
Here are the full remarks delivered at today’s press conference by Michael Town, Director Ejecutivo de la Virginia League of Conservation Voters:
“You can’t go too many places in America today where people are not raising concerns about data centers. For us in Virginia, this is old news. Data Centers have been reshaping communities. Our electric bills keep going up. Neighborhoods have black clouds over them coming from diesel generators on the hottest days of the year. Local officials are cutting deals with companies and keeping the details secret from their voters. People are angry.
“Virginians have been clamoring for action, and for the most part, their concerns have been falling on deaf ears. Virginia LCV represents voters from across the Commonwealth. We fight for a cleaner environment and for a healthier democracy. When the people are crying for help because their community is being polluted and no one is listening, both our environment and our democracy suffer. Until today, that has been our path with data centers.Today, that changes.
“We and many of our partners are ready to work with Governor Spanberger as she leads Virginia into a new era of data center accountability. Together, we’ll cut pollution and we’ll protect communities. The path ahead will not be easy, and we will not always agree. Tomorrow the work begins. Today, we say thank you, Governor Spanberger, thank you for your commitment to tackle this issue and we stand ready to join you as we build a stronger, healthier and cleaner Virginia together.”