Data center growth in Virginia could mean billions in energy costs if it isn’t reigned in — and residents would likely pay higher utility bills to meet those power demands, an in-depth report found.
The non-partisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) handed over its data center report to the General Assembly on Monday. Virginia lawmakers asked the JLARC to study the impact of data center growth earlier this year.
The report shows data centers bring enormous economic benefits, but they also have massive power demands that will be difficult to meet.
According to the report, powering unconstrained data center growth could cost up to $18 billion. Utility customers would also have to pay up to $37 more a month by 2040, the report said.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Julie Carey over at NBC 4 Washington
