Virginia House lawmakers are considering legislation that would require future data centers be built on land zoned for industrial use, away from residential areas.

Senate Bill 94 would also require any high-energy-use facility to conduct a site assessment for effects on nearby homes and schools, and it gives localities the power to require assessments on groundwater and agricultural resources.

Julie Bolthouse, director of land use for the Piedmont Environmental Council, said data center uses are industrial and they should be built in remote areas.

"They come with backup generators that have air pollution issues. They can be loud, so they might have noise issues. The fans for cooling can also add to constant low-frequency noise," Bolthouse outlined. "The hyperscale data centers are very large and bulky, so they’re not really conducive with a town-like environment."

The bill passed the Senate largely along party lines, with three Republicans joining 18 Democrats to form a majority vote. Three Democrats also joined a large group of Republicans in their opposition to the bill.

Bolthouse noted the bill would signal to towns and cities data centers are different from other development proposals they might receive.

"This isn’t like approving an office. This isn’t like approving a Walmart," Bolthouse contended. "This is an industrial use that has air quality ramifications and requires massive amounts of electrical infrastructure and potentially water infrastructure."

Virginia is home to more than 600 data centers, largely concentrated in Loudon, Fairfax and Prince William counties. Many data centers have been built near residential areas, schools, nursing homes and natural resources.