Virginia groups urge inclusive data center curtailment process

The Piedmont Environmental Council and 50 other organizations have submitted a letter urging the Virginia State Corporation Commission to broaden its model tariff process for connecting new data centers to the grid.

• The letter asks the SCC to include state agencies, local governments, and environmental stakeholders in developing curtailment procedures, including the Va. Department of Environmental Quality, State Air Pollution Control Board, Virginia Council on Environmental Justice, and the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Counsel.
• The groups warn that, starting as early as 2027, PJM forecasts insufficient generation to safely serve new data center demand, which could increase use of utility-scale backup generators emitting PM2.5 and NOx.
• Media contact listed: Mike Doble, The Piedmont Environmental Council, mdoble@pecva.org, 703-579-7963.