Study of data center tax breaks and energy use

A committee in Virginia is studying the impact of data center tax breaks and the state’s electric grid. Included in the study are: 

(1) recent and expected trends in factors impacting data center industry growth and forecast future growth of Virginia’s data center industry; 

(2) impacts on Virginia’s natural resources, as well as historic and cultural resources; 

(3) assessing the impacts of the data center industry on current and forecasted energy demand and supply in Virginia, including energy rates paid by customer classes; 

(4) impact on local revenue and local residents, including concerns such as noise pollution, decreasing property values, and the adverse visual impact;

(5) identifying considerations around the construction and siting of data centers; and

(6) determine if Virginia’s data center tax exemption could be improved, including whether the exemption could be better targeted.