Virginia governor creates an AI task force and moves to restrain data centers

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order establishing an AI task force to develop strategies for the technology's responsible deployment across the state. The order also introduces measures to increase oversight of data center development, giving local communities more authority in the approval process for new facilities. These changes respond to growing concerns over the environmental and infrastructure impact of the state's significant concentration of data centers, potentially slowing the pace of new construction projects.