Connect | Virginia // DCD>Debate: Who's charged with powering Virginia's data center boom?

As Virginia’s data center boom continues to drive unprecedented power demand, questions arise about how best to address this growing crisis. The state’s power grid is struggling, with a report from Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) warning that data center-driven demand could double within the next decade.

The same report outlines the need for an additional $18 billion in infrastructure. Should utilities or data centers lead the charge in scaling power generation? And if new infrastructure is built, what costs could be passed on to all customers? Could Virginia soon face tough decisions about prioritizing power distribution and delaying services to data centers?

The complexities of natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy, combined with challenges in building new plants and transmission lines, are top concerns. This debate will explore whether data centers should invest in their own power sources or if utilities must expand infrastructure quickly. How will collaboration between data centers, utilities, and regulators shape Virginia’s energy future, and can the state’s push for cleaner energy keep pace with growing demand?

Conducted under Chatham House Rule, this DCD>Debate invites experts to dissect these pivotal industry issues.