Per Chapter 591 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly, the Virginia Department of Energy is evaluating policy options to evaluate the benefits of the data center waste heat, potential applications for waste heat, best practices and policies for implementation, and recommendations to support broader adoption and deployment.  The Department is seeking input from key stakeholders such as economic development organizations, local governments, municipalities, utilities, data center operators, workforce development experts, research and development experts, and potential end users to ensure the study’s findings reflect on-the-ground needs, priorities, and implementation realities.

Virginia Energy will be taking public comments on the study and the issue of data center waste heat through July 15. Those interested may submit their comments through the portal linked within this notice.