Virginia governor curbs data centers, creates AI task force

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order banning executive branch officials from signing NDAs for data center projects, requiring expedited noise regulations, and mandating review of backup-generation operations. The order also creates a state AI task force to evaluate risks to residents from data center development.

Why it matters: Virginia has the largest concentration of data centers in the world, so state-level pushback here — banning secrecy deals and tightening oversight — could become a template other states follow, adding friction to AI infrastructure buildout.