Bill Text: VA HB1601 | 2025 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2025-01-24 - Referred to Committee on Local Government [HB1601 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-HB1601-Engrossed.html
2025 SESSION
ENGROSSED
25102219D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1601
House Amendments in [ ] -
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.4, relating to siting of data centers; site assessment; high energy use facility.
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Patron Prior to Engrossment—Delegate Thomas
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Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 22 of Title 15.2 a section numbered 15.2-2209.4 as follows:
§ 15.2-2209.4. Siting of data centers; site assessment.
A. As used in this section, "high energy use facility" or "HEUF" means a project requiring 100 megawatts or more of electrical power from an electric utility providing retail service to the facility.
B. Prior to any approval of a rezoning application, special exception, or special use permit for the siting of a new HEUF, a locality shall require that an applicant perform and submit a site assessment to examine, to the extent practicable and within the timeline provided by subdivision A 7 of § 15.2-2286, the sound profile of the HEUF on residential areas and schools within 500 feet of the HEUF property boundary. A locality may also require that a site assessment examine, to the extent practicable and within the timeline provided by subdivision A 7 of § 15.2-2286, the effect of the proposed facility on (i) water, (ii) agricultural resources, (iii) parks, (iv) registered historic sites, [ or and ] (v) forestland on the HEUF site or immediately contiguous land.
C. Prior to any approval of a rezoning application, special exception, or special use permit for the siting of a new HEUF, a locality shall require that the electric utility providing retail service to the new HEUF, to the extent practicable and within the timeline provided by subdivision A 7 of § 15.2-2286, complete and submit to the locality a form describing (i) any new electric generating units that will be required within the jurisdiction to serve the project, (ii) any new or existing substations that will be used to serve the HEUF, and (iii) the anticipated transmission voltage required to serve the HEUF.
D. Site assessments submitted to a locality under subsections B and C shall be used by the locality to assess consistency with the policies of the locality's comprehensive plan and compliance with the locality's noise ordinances, zoning ordinance provisions, and other applicable laws and regulations.
E. A locality's site assessment regarding an HEUF shall not be construed to change, replace, or impact any authority or jurisdiction of the State Corporation Commission, or otherwise delegate any of the State Corporation Commission's authority or jurisdiction to any locality.
F. This section shall not apply to a site with an existing legislative or administrative approval where an applicant is seeking an expansion or modification of an already existing or approved facility and such expansion does not exceed an additional 100 megawatts or more of electrical power.
[ G. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit, limit, or otherwise supersede existing local zoning authority. ]
