WorkSeptember 18, 2026via The Verge AI
Virginia governor creates an AI task force and moves to restrain data centers
Why it matters
A major AI hub is using policy levers to constrain data-center expansion and create local oversight. This signals how regional governance is reshaping the physical infrastructure race underlying frontier AI development.
Key signals
- Executive Order 22 bans NDAs for data-center projects in Virginia state government
- Requires expedited noise regulations for data centers
- Mandates review of backup-generation operations
- Establishes AI task force to evaluate state risks
- Virginia is the data-center capital of the world
- Order empowers local communities in data-center approval process
- Virginia Gov. Spanberger issued Executive Order 22 restricting data center development
- Order bans executive branch NDAs on data center projects, requiring transparency
- Expedited noise regulations and backup-generation review mandated
- Establishes state AI task force to evaluate risks to Virginians
- Virginia is home to 'data center capital of the world'
- Moves to empower local communities in approvals process
The hook
Virginia just made it harder to build data centers. Here's what that means for AI's compute buildout.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ordered the state government to take steps that could empower local communities to have a larger say in data center development and slow down approvals in a state that is already home to the data center capital of the world.
Executive Order 22 bans executive branch o…