Climate Action Now

Virginia’s data center industry is out of control — and state leaders are failing to protect the communities paying the price.

Instead of passing strong safeguards for our air, water, land, and electricity bills, lawmakers are offering more studies and half-measures. But Virginians do not need another commission. We need action now.

No new data centers — or the power plants, transmission lines, and other infrastructure built to serve them — should be approved, permitted, or connected to the grid until Virginia has strong, enforceable protections in place.

Email your Virginia leaders now. Demand a moratorium on new data centers.

We have sample language below, but to make the most impact, we strongly recommend you personalize the content. Tell your story!

Subject:

Dear {contact_data~title} {contact_data~lastName},

I’m writing as a Virginia resident and your constituent to demand an immediate statewide pause on the approval, permitting, and grid connection of all new data centers and their associated infrastructure in the Commonwealth.

Enough is enough. Virginia communities are already facing rising electricity bills, air and water pollution, strained land and water resources, and the unchecked expansion of an industry receiving enormous tax breaks.

We do not need another commission or another study. The harms are already well documented, and communities are experiencing them now. The Senate’s proposal to tax backup generators is not a substitute for comprehensive reform, either—it allows data centers to pay to pollute without protecting the people who bear the consequences, and the estimated revenue generated would not even cover the amount of lost tax revenue in 2025 from this industry.

Recent polling shows that Virginians overwhelmingly agree. They’re concerned about data centers’ impacts on electricity prices, water contamination, and air pollution. Eighty percent oppose the current tax exemption and seven out of ten oppose a data center being built near them.

No new data centers should move forward until Virginia adopts strong, enforceable safeguards that protect communities, prevent energy costs from being passed on to ratepayers, safeguard our air, water, and land, and keep our clean energy transition on track.

Virginians were promised meaningful action and accountability. Instead we’re getting delays and half-measures. Please support an immediate statewide pause on new data centers and associated infrastructure until these protections are in place.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First name} {user_data~Last name},
{user_data~Address line 1}
{user_data~City} 
{user_data~State}
{user_data~Zip Code}

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