For Immediate Release:
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Contact:
Blair St. Ledger-Olson | Director of Advocacy & Campaigns
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
(703) 203-5787 | blair@valcv.org
RICHMOND – The Virginia League of Conservation Voters expressed deep frustration that the budget agreement released by the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate on Friday once again fails to include meaningful environmental standards and safeguards for Virginia’s rapidly expanding data center industry.
Despite growing concerns from communities across the Commonwealth about the impacts of large-scale data center development on water resources, energy demand, air quality, public health, and land use, lawmakers missed a critical opportunity to enact reforms that would better protect Virginians and the natural resources they depend upon. Delaying action only allows existing problems to worsen while the industry continues to expand at an unprecedented pace.
Michael Town, executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:
“With this budget, the legislature has over-promised and completely under-delivered. Despite months of rhetoric about reigning in big tech and stripping away billions in tax breaks, lawmakers completely walked away from both promises.
“Putting together a budget is not easy work, and we recognize the dedication of the conferees and their respective staff, but this budget comes up short. Virginians need stronger protections for their air, water, public health, and quality of life – and they deserve them now.
“Particularly egregious is the new budget language that will incentivize data centers to locate in low-income communities. Communities that historically do not have the resources to fight back against polluting industries should not be targeted for additional industrial development – especially without strong protections, meaningful community engagement, and rigorous environmental standards.
“Virginians are watching their communities be reshaped forever, their water resources diverted, and their electric bills skyrocket. We call on Governor Spanberger to make sure this budget puts our communities and voters first, and no longer at the mercy of the billionaires and trillionaire that run the data center industry. No more data center projects should be allowed to move forward until lawmakers pass the comprehensive solutions that Virginians deserve and demand.”
About us:
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the political voice of the state’s conservation community, working to make sure Virginia’s elected officials recognize that our natural heritage is an environmental and economic treasure for all. Virginia LCV works with conservation leaders across Virginia and strives for a conservation majority in state government. We secure good public policies on the state level and hold public officials accountable for their positions on environmental issues. For more information, visit www.valcv.org.
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