2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26101357D

HOUSE BILL NO. 154

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled January 6, 2026

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 10.1-1308.2, relating to Department of Environmental Quality; data centers; use of emergency generation unit; disclosure requirements.

—————

Patron—Thomas

—————

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

—————

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 10.1-1308.2 as follows:

§ 10.1-1308.2. Data centers; use of emergency generation unit; disclosure requirements.

A. As used in this section:

"Data center" means the same as that term is defined in § 58.1-3506.

"Emergency" means a condition that arises from sudden and reasonably unforeseeable events where the primary energy or power source is disrupted or disconnected due to conditions beyond the control of an owner of such energy or power source, including a failure of the electrical grid, an onsite disaster or equipment failure, and public service emergencies such as flood, fire, natural disaster, or severe weather conditions.

"Emergency generation unit" means a stationary internal combustion engine that operates only during an emergency, required maintenance, or operability and emissions testing.

B. The Department shall require each data center that operates an emergency generation unit to report on a publicly accessible website within 24 hours the times when such emergency generation unit has been or will be in operation.