Bill > HB607

This bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to conduct a three-year study on the cumulative air pollution impact of data centers, particularly in areas with a high concentration of these facilities. The study will model various scenarios, including planned and increased actual outages, demand response, and primary power supply use, to assess emissions from data center generators that were previously approved under minor air permits based on individual generator output rather than aggregate impact. The DEQ will examine emission levels, geographic impacts on communities including sensitive receptors and environmental justice communities, temporal aspects of generator operation and public health effects, and the health impacts of different pollution exposure durations and types. Based on these findings, the DEQ will provide recommendations on how to handle future minor air permits for data center generators and whether increased air quality monitoring is needed in the Commonwealth, reporting its findings to legislative committees and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources by October 1, 2029.

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB607