Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed an executive order banning non-disclosure agreements covering data center projects, a measure her office calls "the most comprehensive and aggressive data center accountability effort" in America.

The order, signed in the state that hosts the world's largest data center market, establishes the Data Center Accountability Framework. NDAs have frequently obscured details of which companies are building new campuses and under what terms.

What does the framework cover?

The executive order sets out several concrete measures:

• NDAs banned: Data center projects can no longer be hidden behind non-disclosure agreements that have kept developers, operators and project terms out of public view.
• Backup generator review: The state will review the impact of backup generators, specifically diesel-powered units, which can pollute surrounding communities.
• Noise regulations: The framework directs that work on data center noise regulations be expedited.
• Planning toolkit: Local governments and communities will receive a data center planning and community engagement toolkit.
• AI task force: Virginia will create an AI task force to address risks from rapid artificial intelligence development, including workforce displacement, data privacy and cybersecurity.

What did Governor Spanberger say?

Spanberger, a Democrat who took office earlier this year, framed the framework as a national benchmark.

"Virginia should be leading the nation in setting the highest standards for this industry. And now, I believe we are doing just that," she said.

"Virginia's Data Center Accountability Framework is about delivering a better deal for Virginians and holding data center companies, developers, and operators accountable. The framework is a thorough plan to end data center secrecy, protect our environment, lower energy costs for families, bolster our clean energy economy, and make sure Virginia workers have the protections and assurances they deserve."

The order names multiple targets at once: secrecy in project development, environmental effects, household energy costs, the clean energy sector and worker protections.

How does Virginia compare with other states?

Spanberger is the latest US state governor to act amid a growing backlash against data centers and AI infrastructure.

In July, New York Governor Kathy Hochul introduced a one-year moratorium on data center projects in her state, citing concerns over power and water consumption. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has paused all data center projects in the state while grid operator Ercot reviews the interconnection requests it has received.

The three states represent distinct regulatory approaches: New York's time-limited moratorium, Texas's pause pending a grid review, and Virginia's structural framework targeting transparency and accountability rather than halting construction outright.

What has already happened at county level?

Northern Virginia, the world's busiest data center market, has already seen local restrictions slow new projects.

Prince William County is reducing the size of its by-right district for data centers — areas where projects win approval without a full planning review. Neighboring Loudoun County has paused all new applications for 12 months.

The governor's executive order extends this tightening from the county level to the state level. For operators and developers active in Northern Virginia, the framework adds state-level transparency obligations, environmental review and noise regulation on top of the local measures already constraining approvals.

The diesel generator review carries particular weight for the industry. Backup generation is a standard component of data center design, and any resulting restrictions on diesel units would affect both existing campuses and projects in the pipeline. The order does not specify a timeline for the review or for the noise regulations.

The AI task force broadens the state's scope beyond physical infrastructure. Its mandate covers workforce displacement, data privacy and cybersecurity — issues that follow from the same compute buildout the framework otherwise regulates through land use, noise and emissions controls.

For data center operators, the signal from Richmond is that the world's largest market will demand more disclosure, not less. Companies that have relied on NDAs to keep project details quiet while negotiating in Northern Virginia will need to adapt to the new rules, and to a governor who has made industry accountability an early centerpiece of her administration.