# Virginia Governor Creates AI Task Force and Limits Data Center Approvals

> According to The Verge, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order that sets new restrictions on data center projects and creates a state AI task force. The order bans nondisclosure agreements for data center deals, requires faster noise regulations, and mandates a review of backup-generator operations. The new task force will evaluate how the state can address risks from artificial intelligence.

- **Topic**: Society
- **Published**: 2026-09-21T02:14:05.474Z
- **Read Time**: 1 min read
- **Canonical URL**: https://highsignal.sh/stories/virginia-governor-creates-ai-task-force-and-limits-data-center-approvals-bc629c5b

## Why It Matters

The executive order gives local Virginia communities more control over data center development and seeks to make government actions more transparent. The establishment of an AI task force shows increased state government attention to risks related to artificial intelligence.

## Key Findings & Analysis

### Executive Order 22 Targets Data Center Secrecy and Community Impact

Governor Spanberger’s executive order bans executive branch officials from signing nondisclosure agreements for data center projects, adds faster requirements for noise regulation, and calls for a review of backup-generation operations at data centers.

### AI Task Force to Address Statewide Risks

The order creates a task force to evaluate how Virginia’s government can address risks from artificial intelligence.

## Original Evidence & Verbatim Citations

> "Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ordered the state government to take steps that could empower local communities to have a larger say in data center development and slow down approvals in a state that is already home to the data center capital of the world."

— *Grounded field: headline*

> "Executive Order 22 bans executive branch officials from signing nondisclosure agreements for data center projects, requires expedited noise regulations, and requires a review of backup-generation operations used by data centers, among other requirements. The order also establishes an AI task force responsible for evaluating how the state government can address risks to Virginians like wo …"

— *Grounded field: summary*

> "Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ordered the state government to take steps that could empower local communities to have a larger say in data center development"

— *Grounded field: whyItMatters*

> "The order also establishes an AI task force responsible for evaluating how the state government can address risks to Virginians"

— *Grounded field: whyItMatters*

> "Executive Order 22 bans executive branch officials from signing nondisclosure agreements for data center projects, requires expedited noise regulations, and requires a review of backup-generation operations used by data centers, among other requirements."

— *Grounded field: section:0*

> "The order also establishes an AI task force responsible for evaluating how the state government can address risks to Virginians"

— *Grounded field: section:1*

## Primary Sources & Citations

- [Virginia governor creates an AI task force and moves to restrain data centers](https://www.theverge.com/policy/997573/virginia-governor-spanberger-data-center-ai-task-force) — *The Verge (AI)* (Reporting)

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