Explain the changes.
Maintain a dated reform guide and develop short explainers on electricity, water, noise, and public accountability.
Start with the basics →Virginia reform update · September 21, 2026
What changes.
What comes next.
Virginia’s new data center direction makes clear information and community participation especially important. The Initiative is focusing on public education, independent research, and understanding how the reforms take shape.
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed Executive Order 22 on September 18, 2026. This page distinguishes the order’s directions from work still to be completed.
Read the signed executive orderUnderstanding the order
Implementation
has stages.
The order takes effect on signing. Many of its directions call for future guidance, recommendations, public processes, or proposed criteria. Those stages matter when assessing what has changed.
| Workstream | Direction and timing | What to follow |
|---|---|---|
| Community toolkit | The Chief Energy Officer’s office must develop a planning and community engagement toolkit within 120 days. | Public information templates, project questions, and engagement guidance. Section I.B.1. |
| Noise and cooling water | DEQ must provide accelerated timelines, workplans, and engagement plans within 180 days. | These are planning deadlines; they are not deadlines for final regulations. Sections I.C.1 and I.C.3. |
| Backup generation and siting | Backup-generation findings are due within 180 days. Siting recommendations are due within 240 days. | Evidence, public input, and resulting recommendations. Sections I.C.2 and I.C.4. |
| VA-LEAD | Proposed responsible-development designation criteria and an implementation plan are due by the end of 2027. | The criteria development process and opportunities for input. Section I.B.3. |
Source: Executive Order 22, sections I.B–I.C . This is a selected guide, not a complete account of the order.
Read each action within its scope.
The order also addresses transparency, specified VEDP assistance for new projects of 25 MW or greater, affordability, grid reliability, workforce matters, and AI. Its restriction on specified VEDP programs is not a statewide construction-permit ban. Proposed legislative changes and final agency rules should be checked separately.
An opening for community work
Useful input.
Independent judgment.
Section I.B.1 expressly allows the Chief Energy Officer’s office to engage nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and independent experts while developing the community toolkit. It also permits partnerships and pursuit of nonstate resources, consistent with applicable law.
That creates a possible route for contributing community questions and practical educational tools. It does not appoint the Initiative as a partner, award funding, or approve a project. No state partnership or endorsement is claimed.
Our next step is to seek information about participation and prepare material that can be useful to residents and the agencies doing this work.
Section I.B.1, printed pages 3–4The Initiative’s next phase
Make the work
useful locally.
These are our priorities for development. Events, contributors, and partnerships will be announced when confirmed.
Listen and clarify.
Plan small community conversations, collect practical questions, and seek qualified reviewers for technical answers.
Share a question or offer expertise →Follow the evidence.
Track published implementation materials and compare them with community questions. Identify unresolved issues without assuming that an announced action has delivered an outcome.
Read our evidence standards →Earlier citizen proposal · Under review
A pause for
careful evaluation.
The Virginia Data Center Innovation and Accountability Act was developed before this executive order. We have paused its advancement while reviewing overlap, implementation details, and any remaining need for additional policy.
The earlier summary remains available for transparency. It is not introduced legislation or the governor’s reform package. Review may lead to revisions, a narrower proposal, or retirement of provisions already addressed.
Read the proposal status →