Virginia governor creates an AI task force and moves to restrain data centers

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 to increase oversight of data center development in a state that hosts a major global hub. The order bans executive-branch officials from signing NDAs on data center projects, speeds up noise rules, reviews backup generation, and creates an AI task force to assess risks to residents.

The move reflects growing political pressure around the infrastructure demands of AI, especially power, land use, noise, and transparency. Virginia’s approach could become a model for states trying to balance data center growth with local control and community impacts.