LTE by Dr. Jamie Bacon, CCAN Action Fund Volunteer from Alexandra, VA, initially published in The Fairfax Times.

As a member of the board for our condominium community, which includes three nine-story buildings, I’m concerned about how data center growth is impacting our electricity bills. My complex’s electricity budget for 2026 is already $250,000, and energy experts project that electricity rates will continue to rise through the end of the decade, largely due to the explosion of energy-hungry data centers. For a community of mostly retirees already struggling with condo fees, that outlook is devastating.

That’s why I strongly support SB 619, which would require large data centers to obtain approval from the State Corporation Commission (SCC), ensuring that grid reliability and ratepayer impacts are considered before projects move forward. The Senate has already passed this bill with bipartisan support; now it’s time for the House to do the same.

Right now, data centers are approved only at the local level, without any statewide review of grid reliability, energy costs, or public health impacts. That policy gap is putting all Virginians at risk. According to the independent market monitor for PJM, our regional grid operator, continuing to add massive new data center loads without oversight could lead to periodic blackouts. The SCC has similarly noted that large-load customers contribute less toward transmission costs than households and small businesses, meaning we end up paying more.

State oversight of data centers is especially critical right now, as data centers continue to burn diesel fuel for backup power. This threatens the health of nearby communities with toxic air pollution from diesel generators during blackouts. Without SCC oversight, Virginia risks exposing residents to unnecessary pollution and worsening air quality in exchange for corporate convenience.

It’s unconscionable that, right now, data centers are approved only at the local level, without any consideration for how these projects affect Virginia’s energy grid, our climate goals, or household budgets. Voters made it clear they want reasonable oversight, not a Wild West of unchecked data center expansion. For communities like mine and thousands of Virginians watching their utility costs climb, passing SB 619 is urgent.

LTE by Dr. Jamie Bacon, CCAN Action Fund Volunteer from Alexandra, VA, initially published in The Fairfax Times.