{"id":2172062,"date":"2024-02-09T08:37:06","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T13:37:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/data-center-bill-dies-in-virginia-house\/"},"modified":"2024-02-09T08:44:04","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T13:44:04","slug":"data-center-bill-dies-in-virginia-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/data-center-bill-dies-in-virginia-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia House kills data center bill"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdata-center-bill-dies-in-virginia-house%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2172062&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Virginia House of Delegates Subcommittee Tables Bill Restricting Data Centers Near State\u2064 and\u2062 National Parks<\/h2>\n<p>A bill that aimed to limit the construction of data centers within\u2064 a half mile of \u2064state and national parks in Virginia was tabled \u200cby a House of Delegates\u200d subcommittee on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Del. Joshua Thomas, the bill&#8217;s sponsor, made a passionate plea to move it forward, emphasizing the impact on his district.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cMy district is hurting. We have a community that\u2019s been torn apart by this issue,\u201d \u200dThomas said. \u201cWe just need some relief from the body that is best in a position to provide that from a district that is losing its cultural sites, that is losing precious environmental land and \u2062that is getting torn asunder by an industry that is relatively new\u2026 and now would be an appropriate time to start putting \u2062some sensible guardrails on there.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>While four people testified in favor of the \u2063bill, \u2062eight testified \u2062against it, representing various organizations.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThis bill specifically targets data\u200d center development, while continuing to permit\u200d more intensive economic uses, \u200bindustries and projects that may be located on the same sites. It\u2019s singling out an industry with very little regard to what may come instead,\u201d\u200b said Kate Smiley of the Data Center Coalition.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Concerns were also raised about the potential interference with localities&#8217; autonomy to\u200b decide land use issues.<\/p>\n<p>The General Assembly\u2019s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) is set to conduct a study on data \u200ccenters in \u20622024, \u200dreflecting the contentious nature \u200dof the issue across the commonwealth.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>JLARC studies hold significant weight in Virginia, with a high \u200dimplementation \u200crate of their recommendations. However, the release of the Commission&#8217;s\u2064 report is not expected until October or even December, prompting committees to delay taking\u2064 action on data center legislation.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>After thorough discussion and questioning, Del. Shelly Simonds motioned to \u2063table the bill, emphasizing the need for further efforts to reach a compromise.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI appreciate the loyalty and how you\u2019re stepping \u2062up to fight \u2063for your community, but we\u2019ve heard a lot of discussion here \u2063today and it really seems like we \u200bneed to do more to try to reach\u2063 some kind of compromise position. \u2062For now, I think we need to gently lay this bill on the table,\u201d Simonds\u200c said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-sponsored-gun-bills-sail-through-committee\/\" title=\"Gun bills backed by Democrats easily pass committee\">subcommittee unanimously voted<\/a> in favor of\u200d tabling the bill.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What \u200dare the arguments \u2062put forth by representatives from the \u200btech industry and \u200bbusiness community against the \u200bproposed restrictions, and how do they \u2062view the economic benefits of data centers in Virginia<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u2062 Position to provide it.\u2063 This bill would protect \u200dour precious parks and preserve the natural \u200cbeauty that attracts tourists\u200d and benefits \u2063our local economy. We cannot allow data \u2063centers to encroach upon\u2062 these cherished spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The proposed bill, known as HB 1851, aimed to establish \u2062a buffer zone\u200d of at\u200d least a half\u200c mile\u2063 around state and national\u2063 parks in Virginia. It intended to\u200c restrict the construction of data centers \u200bwithin this radius in order to preserve the environmental integrity and scenic beauty of these protected areas. Data centers\u2062 have become increasingly prevalent in Virginia, drawn by \u2064its favorable business climate and robust infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>However, this rapid growth in data center construction has raised concerns among\u200b conservationists, environmentalists, and local communities. They argue that the encroachment of data\u200d centers\u200c on parks\u200d threatens the fragile ecosystems,\u200d disrupts wildlife \u2063habitats, and negatively impacts the \u2063overall visitor experience.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents of the bill, primarily representatives\u200d from the tech industry and business community, argue that the proposed restrictions would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russia-hikes-interest-rate-as-hackers-mock-putin-over-slide-against-us-dollar\/\" title=\"Russia raises interest rates as hackers taunt Putin over weakening against US dollar.\">hinder economic development<\/a> and job creation. They contend that data centers bring\u200c valuable investments to the state, provide employment \u200copportunities, \u2062and contribute to the local \u200btax base.<\/p>\n<p>The subcommittee ultimately decided to table the bill, \u2064with some members expressing the need for further study and consideration of its potential implications. While acknowledging the concerns raised by Del. Thomas and other\u2062 supporters\u200c of\u2062 the bill, the subcommittee argued that a more comprehensive approach, involving stakeholders from both the conservation and technology sectors, is necessary to find a balanced solution.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed,\u2062 striking the right balance between economic growth and environmental preservation is a complex task. As Virginia continues to \u2062attract data center developers, it is crucial to ensure that\u2063 the state&#8217;s natural landscapes and recreational areas are safeguarded for future generations.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, it is essential that\u200b the voices\u2063 of all \u2064stakeholders are heard and that a collaborative\u2064 effort is made to address these concerns. This may involve the establishment of\u200d guidelines for responsible data \u2064center construction near parks,\u200c implementing \u2062sustainable practices, and leveraging innovative technologies to minimize the environmental impact.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, it is important for legislators to consider the long-term consequences of data\u200d center expansion and\u200c to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/construction-work-paused-at-brighton-park-migrant-camp-after-environmental-review-revealed-contaminants\/\" title=\"Construction halted at Brighton Park migrant camp due to contaminants found during environmental review\">explore alternative locations<\/a> that do not encroach upon ecologically sensitive\u2062 areas. This \u200bcould involve identifying industrial \u2063zones\u2063 or repurposing existing facilities to accommodate the growing demand for data centers.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to table HB 1851 provides an opportunity\u2062 for further dialogue and \u200cengagement. By\u200c bringing together technology\u200b companies,\u2063 environmental organizations, local communities, \u2064and legislators, we can \u2062strive to \u2062find a collaborative and sustainable approach \u200bthat balances the economic\u2063 benefits of data centers with the preservation of our natural\u2063 treasures.<\/p>\n<p>Virginia has long\u200b been admired for its stunning landscapes, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay.\u200c As the state continues to evolve in a\u2064 rapidly changing \u2064digital world, it is imperative \u200cthat we protect these natural wonders that define our identity\u200d and serve as a \u2063source of \u200dpride\u200b for all Virginians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A bill in Virginia to limit data centers near parks was tabled by a House subcommittee. Del. Joshua Thomas, D-Prince William, made a passionate plea before the vote, but the bill was not passed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2172063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AP8055407565211447-1-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2172062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AP8055407565211447-1-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2172062","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2172062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2172062\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2172063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2172062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2172062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2172062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}