The Virginia Data Center Price Tag: Breakdown | The Current

Описание: Data centers power everything from streaming and apps to the answers you get from AI chatbots—but in Virginia, more residents are asking what the growth is costing them. New polling shows 92% of potential voters say lawmakers should do more to regulate data centers, and 73% blame them for rising electricity costs.

In this explainer, we break down the biggest costs and tradeoffs: $1.6 billion in state sales and use tax breaks, the local revenue benefits some counties see, and why electricity rates can rise in areas near major data center clusters as utilities upgrade the grid to meet soaring demand. We also look at the national AI investment race—and what this could mean for places like Botetourt County, where Google bought land for a potential data center.

What you’ll see:

What the new Virginia polling shows about concerns over data centers
The fiscal tradeoff: statewide tax breaks vs local revenue and GDP impact
How data centers can drive grid upgrades—and why that can affect your power bill
What the AI boom could mean for future data center growth in Virginia
If your electricity bill is going up and you’re not sure why, contact us—we’ll help break it down and keep tracking who’s paying for Virginia’s data center boom.

Chapters
00:00 Virginians unite on one issue: more oversight for data centers (new polling)
00:53 The money question: $1.6B in tax breaks vs major local revenue and GDP impact
01:24 Why electricity bills rise near data centers: grid strain and costly upgrades
02:10 The AI investment surge—and what growth could look like in Botetourt County

Erick Solorzano, Report for America corps member / Community Engagement Journalist

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