Governor of Virginia
Now: Governor verified October 12, 2026 · source (opens in a new tab)
Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections
Of 13 statements on the record, 11 raised concerns about data centers, 1 was mixed and 1 carries no label.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
Position History: Chronological record of positions across sourced statements.
- · Raises concern · WTVR.com
- · Raises concern · theroanokestar.com
- · Raises concern · datacenterrichness.substack.com
- · Raises concern · New River Valley News
- · Raises concern · datacenterrichness.substack.com
- · Mixed · New River Valley News
- · Raises concern · New River Valley News
- · Raises concern · New River Valley News
- · Raises concern · datacenterrichness.substack.com
- · Raises concern · New River Valley News
- · Raises concern · The Center Square
- · Raises concern · ALXnow
What they said
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Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced a new framework to regulate data centers seeking to review noise regulations and backup power generators and establish guidelines for grid reliability
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 23, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- ALXnow (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "announced a new framework to regulate data centers seeking to review noise regulations and backup power generators and establish guidelines for grid reliability".
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Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger calls on Congress for federal AI rules addressing workforce impacts, data privacy and resource use for data centers.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 22, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- The Center Square (opens in a new tab), national outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "citing concerns about workforce impacts, data privacy and the resources needed to support the technology".
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Spanberger said wealthy companies should cover the full cost of infrastructure built solely to serve their operations
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- theroanokestar.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "wealthy companies should cover the full cost of infrastructure built solely to serve their operations".
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Virginia Department of Environmental Quality given 180 day timeline to develop proposals on regulations for data center noise and emissions from backup generation.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- datacenterrichness.substack.com (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "Virginia Department of Environmental Quality given 180 day timeline to develop proposals on regulations for data center noise and emissions from backup generation.".
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Spanberger said the industry has been rapidly expanding in the last few years without a clear or coordinated plan to address impacts on Virginians.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- New River Valley News (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "industry has been rapidly expanding in the last few years without a clear or coordinated plan to address impacts on Virginians".
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Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger unveiled a Data Center Accountability Framework that includes an executive order banning non disclosure agreements between data center projects and state officials or agencies.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- datacenterrichness.substack.com (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "banning non disclosure agreements between data center projects and state officials or agencies".
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Governor Spanberger said Virginia's Data Center Accountability Framework is the most comprehensive and aggressive data center accountability effort in the country.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- New River Valley News (opens in a new tab), news outlet
- The Daily Progress (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "Virginia's Data Center Accountability Framework is the most comprehensive and aggressive data center accountability effort in the country".
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The Framework bans non disclosure agreements for commercial projects and requires community benefits agreements.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- New River Valley News (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "banning non-disclosure agreements for commercial projects, because oftentimes they keep neighbors in the dark about what’s being planned in their backyards".
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The Framework includes five core requirements: Increasing Transparency, Strengthening Environmental Protections, Lowering Energy Costs, Bolstering our Clean Energy Economy, and Delivering a Better Deal for Virginia Workers.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- New River Valley News (opens in a new tab), news outlet
- WVVA (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "The Framework includes five core requirements: Increasing Transparency, Strengthening Environmental Protections, Lowering Energy Costs".
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Virginia legislative priorities for 2027 include eliminating by right approval and requiring local approval of any data center using more than 25 megawatts of power.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- datacenterrichness.substack.com (opens in a new tab), trade press
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "eliminating by right approval and requiring local approval of any data center using more than 25 megawatts of power".
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The Framework requires local permit approvals for any data center above 25 megawatts.
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source. Label set by a tiebreak.
Where & When: September 19, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- New River Valley News (opens in a new tab), news outlet
Label rationale: A tiebreak: the two first readings differed, and a third reading of the statement and its source decided. The words that set it: "The Framework requires local permit approvals for any data center above 25 megawatts.".
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Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced a Data Center Accountability Framework aimed at increasing oversight of the data center industry
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- WTVR.com (opens in a new tab), local outlet
Label rationale: Both readings of the statement agreed. The words that set it: "Data Center Accountability Framework aimed at increasing oversight of the data center industry".
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Governor Abigail Spanberger announced a data center accountability framework and signed an executive order to regulate data centers
Context & source notes
Format & Provenance: Paraphrased from source.
Where & When: September 18, 2026.
Primary Sources:
- wvtf.org (opens in a new tab), local outlet
1 statement on file was labeled and is left out of the counts.
How they voted
No vote on a data center measure on the record.
Something missing?
Know a sourced statement by Abigail D. Spanberger on data centers that is not here? Send the link. It goes to the record's inbox as a card routed to this person and publishes only after it is read against its source.
Are you Abigail D. Spanberger or on the campaign? Ask for a correction or send a statement, or email corrections@datacenterrecord.org.
Data Center Record, "Public statements by Abigail D. Spanberger", https://datacenterrecord.org/speakers/abigail-d-spanberger, last verified October 19, 2026.
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Last verified: October 12, 2026.