Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) defended the economic and national security importance of the state’s booming data center industry this week, days after approving a budget that imposes Virginia’s first tax on the sector’s electricity consumption.

Spanberger said the new budget strikes a balance between ensuring data centers “pay their fair share” while preserving an industry she said is critical to Virginia’s economy and the nation’s technological leadership in an interview with Politico.