Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) unveiled what she calls the nation’s “most comprehensive and aggressive” data center regulations in Virginia, aiming to hold companies accountable, reduce energy costs, and safeguard environmental protections.

Her executive order announcement came on the heels of a week centered on the topic of artificial intelligence, as Americans have increasingly raised concerns about the data center infrastructure powering AI, and top industry executives call for national guardrails on frontier AI development.