New reports raise pollution questions about Virginia data centers
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Virginia has spent years building the infrastructure powering AI, but researchers and residents are still trying to answer questions about what data centers mean for air quality, water systems and public health.
Why it matters: These facilities are coming to more parts of the Richmond area as the Northern Virginia industry faces constraints.
Driving the news: A trio of recent reports has put a spotlight on those unknowns for Virginia's fast-growing data center industry.
- The American Lung Association's 2026 "State of the Air" report identified data centers as an emerging air pollution concern because of their electricity demand and diesel backup generators.
- A recent Washington Post analysis of emissions permits found pollution from thousands of diesel generators attached to Virginia data centers could worsen respiratory problems and contribute to premature deaths even when rarely used.
- And the Virginia Mercury this week reported that the state doesn't require data center wastewater to be tested for PFAS — so-called "forever chemicals" linked to health risks — leaving questions about what exactly is entering local sewer systems.
Reality check: None of the reports say Virginia's data centers are causing widespread environmental harm.
- And the "State of the Air" report notes Virginia's air quality is generally pretty good, though Richmond, Henrico and Hanover scored a C for short-term particle pollution while Chesterfield got a B.
Yes, but: They point to lingering questions as Virginia's data center footprint — estimated to generate billions of dollars in tax revenue over the next decade — grows rapidly.
- In Chesterfield, a resident-led petition with over 1,530 signatures says the county hasn't "adequately" addressed water and air quality consequences tied to Google's incoming data center campuses.
- Chesterfield economic development director Garrett Hart told Axios the projects' zoning approvals limit water and sewer use and that the petition's concerns have been considered.
The other side: Virginia's Department of Environmental Quality can only issue permits that comply with state and federal environmental regulations, agency spokesperson John Giese told Axios.
- Nicole Riley with the Data Center Coalition, which represents major operators like Google and Meta, told Axios that data centers are heavily regulated "to ensure safe, responsible operation."
- Riley also cited a 2024 legislative study that found backup generators are a "relatively small contributor to regional air pollution" and rarely used.
- DEQ has also launched an air-monitoring project in Northern Virginia's "data center alley" to collect data on pollutants in response to air quality concerns.
What we're watching: A new law will require data centers seeking air permits after July 1 to use cleaner diesel generators than many existing facilities do.
- Lawmakers pushed a separate bill that would have studied whether data centers are creating air pollution impacts not captured by current oversight programs to next year's legislative session.