Regulation and law · Data centers and energy
Virginia banned nondisclosure agreements between data centers and state agencies
This story was corrected after publication (Oct. 9, 2026). Details
Executive Order 22, signed by Governor Abigail Spanberger on September 18, bans nondisclosure agreements between data centers and executive branch agencies, boards and commissions, and bars those bodies from requiring one. It does not cover local governments, and the governor said she would work with the General Assembly on that. The same order also excludes new projects of 25 megawatts or more from state site-readiness assistance and expedited permitting programs; ending by-right approval for them and requiring local approval are among the proposals the governor will take to the General Assembly.
Sources
- Virginia Valiliği (Office of the Governor), press release on the Data Center Accountability Framework, (governor.virginia.gov)
- Virginia Valiliği (Office of the Governor), text of Executive Order 22 (PDF), (governor.virginia.gov)
- Cardinal News, “Spanberger issues executive order to hold data centers ‘accountable,’ form AI task force”, (cardinalnews.org)
Corrections and updates
- The version first posted on Instagram said Executive Order 22 removes by-right approval for projects above 25 megawatts and requires a public hearing. Under the order’s text, such projects are excluded from state site-readiness and expedited permitting programs, while ending by-right approval is among the governor’s proposals to the General Assembly; the text has been corrected.
About this story
This story was posted on Instagram by @jarrus.tech on Sept. 24, 2026.
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This story in Turkish: Virginia, veri merkezleriyle eyalet kurumları arasındaki gizlilik anlaşmalarını yasakladı
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