Coalition to Protect Prince William County – Questions Relating to Data Centers
For Virginia Congressional 7th and 10th District Candidates
Answers provided by:
Travis Nembhard________________ June 3, 2024____________________
NAME DATE
U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia’s 10th Congressional District_________________
CANDIDATE FOR
***********************
1. Right now, data centers alone account for 20% of the electricity provided statewide by Dominion Energy, and over 50% of the electricity provided by NOVEC service territory. Those percentages are growing. Do you think this is sustainable? What is your position on the growth of Data Centers in northern Virginia over the past decade? (Please provide response here)
I do not believe the excessive strain on our electric grid is sustainable and we need to do better about
ensuring that we are not developing data centers at rate faster than we can handle. We need to make sure there is balance and that there is not overdevelopment of data centers, especially in areas that are meant to be residential.
2. The Coalition to Save Prince William County is currently participating in a lawsuit to block the Digital
Gateway, which would site 23 million square feet of Data Centers within a half-mile of Manassas National Battlefield Park. Will you support Federal legislation to prohibit Data Centers within close proximity of national parks and historic sites? (Please provide response here)
Yes, I would support federal legislation to prohibit data centers within close proximity of national parks and historic sites.
3. The growth of Data Centers requires the use of additional power plants, mainly coal-fired and gas-fired, to provide sufficient “baseload” power, thereby nullifying the purpose of the Virginia Clean Economy Act passed in 2020. Will you support Federal legislation to limit Data Centers by requiring that they only use renewable sources and comply with the federal governments energy star program ENERGY STAR NextGen Certification for Commercial Buildings | ENERGY STAR? (Please provide response here)
Yes, I will support federal legislation that requires data centers to transition to renewable sources and
comply with the federal government’s energy star program. I think it’s also important that we expand
research into ways of improving efficiencies in data centers, ranging from the sound pollution, energy
consumption, and even outward appearance, so that they are not seen as encroaching on the
environment, the power grid, or the aesthetic appeal of neighborhoods.
4. Given the explosive load demand from Data Centers that is triggering transmission lines which cross not only county boundaries but also state lines, is it appropriate that the Federal government usurp State authority by designating power corridors under the jurisdiction of NIETC? (Please provide response here)
NIETC gives the Secretary of Energy the authority to designate power corridors to prevent higher electric prices, while also reducing both the incidences and the length of power outages.
5. Public utilities have a cost sharing structure that spreads investments for new transmission and generation across all rate payers. Given that the Data Center industry is the trigger for a significant portion of the new transmission and generation infrastructure, in what ways do you support a more appropriate cost shift to the data center industry? (Please provide response here)
I support placing the onus on data centers to bear the burden of any strain and investments required due to data center development. I would propose encouraging a cost-sharing structure that ties the percentages of expected usage to the percentage of cost burden. And, putting forth protections against undercutting projected usage, by putting a cap on usage beyond 10 percent of the amount projected by data centers.
6. As a federal official, in order to understand the cumulative impacts of the data center industry demand on power, water, and agricultural land, will you support a comprehensive report on the impacts to those critical resources? (Please provide response here)
Yes, I would support a comprehensive report on the impacts to those critical resources, and would encourage greater attention on the environmental impact of each data center development being proposed.
7. Please share your understanding of the impacts of data center development on both ground and surface water resources. How would you address Data Centers’ impervious surfaces impacts and water consumption to protect access to clean water? (Please provide response here)
It is well documented that data centers consume massive quantities of water, due to their large electricity demands. This impacts groundwater by risking a reduction of water levels below historic and natural levels. This high draw on water runs the risk of disrupting the balance we have in the Northeast, which could see a future where there is insufficient water to sustain the resident population of Virginia, something considered unthinkable at the moment. I would promote heavy research into the conversion of saltwater into usable water needed for electrical usage and cooling purposes. I would also push to put a cap on the level of water usage by each given data center after consulting with environmental expert and data center professionals to assess genuine needs (as opposed to desirable attributes). Congress should consider looking into whether it would make sense to institute a water tax on industries that put an unusual burden on our drinking water supply, and groundwater and surface water resources.
8. Provide any additional information that outlines steps you have taken to protect citizens against data
center proliferation. (Please provide response here)
When running for office last year for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 22nd District, I pushed for
policies, while raising awareness about the need to protect our environment against aggressive utility
activity and excessive data center development. This approach resulted in a 2023 campaign that garnered the support from environmental groups like Clean Virginia, the League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club and donations from groups like the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Virginia Preservation PAC. I have long taken the position that data centers have no place near schools, parks, and homes. This means placing buffer zones around residential areas, requiring robust environmental impact statements, increasing cost-sharing and investments on the part of data centers, and placing research at the forefront of promoting data center efficiency and accountability.
9. Will you use your position as a member of Congress to speak to the issue of data center
proliferation? (Please provide response here)
Yes, I will absolutely use my position to speak to the issue of data center proliferation. It is important that we balance the needs of the region, with the voices of our residents. Considering a data center is currently slated to go up in my backyard (literally), I will not be forgetting about the issue of data centers during my time in office, and nor would my neighbors allow me to!