Below is a selection of headlines from today’s Virginia Public Access Project state news compilation, which really could be replicated on many days now. What a change in the state’s economic (and media) climate. This will not end well.

 Warner proposes link of data center tax break to environment

State senator opposed to data center tax break to bring listening tour to Danville

 Starwood files plans for first Plaza 500 data center near Alexandria as residents prepare to rally against it

 Loudoun Supervisor Eyes Data Center Generator Regulations

 Application for proposed battery storage facility in Chesapeake withdrawn

 Clarke School Board OKs resolution against transmission line

 Pittsylvania County advances $100B data center campus proposal despite resident concerns

 Residents want Buckingham Co. board to oppose gas plant

 Franklin County supervisors agree to more discussion on data centers after outcry

 Franklin County residents bash supervisors on data center discussions

Transmission lines, battery storage, a new gas plant, and data centers — all subject to pressure as NIMBY transforms to BANANA (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything.) I left out the stories about the growing opposition to NextEra Energy’s acquisition of Dominion, which in my opinion is mainly fueled by the environmental movement’s fear that the combined entity will bypass the Virginia Clean Economy Act and push successfully to build additional natural gas generation, and also their concerns that they will have less political influence on a Florida-based entity.  

Nope, not going to end well at all, Virginia. — SDH