Virginia bills seek oversight and cost allocation for data centers

The Piedmont Environmental Council announced that two data center reform bills, SB 619 and SB 339, survived crossover and are moving through the Virginia General Assembly toward Gov. Spanberger’s desk.

• Main action: SB 619 would require a Certificate of Operation from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for any high-load facility needing at least 90 megawatts before grid connection; the bill is expected to be taken up by the House Labor and Commerce Committee next week and aims to introduce state oversight, transparency, and ratepayer protections.
• Background and implementation details: SB 339 directs the SCC to re-examine transmission cost allocation to protect non-data-center customers, cites potential exposure of $28 billion in transmission costs and $100 to $300 billion in capital expenditures, and requires Dominion to use the Probability of Dispatch methodology in a relevant proceeding prior to January 1, 2028.