Virginia’s data center boom comes with a dirty not-so-little secret: giant diesel generators — thousands of them. These generators are marketed as “backup,” or "emergency" use yet recent regulatory changes mean they can now run more often and with fewer restrictions related to pollutants and time of use than the public was led to believe. For years, these generators have been permitted for “emergency” backup purposes and the state has imposed limitations on how long they can run per year and what level of emissions and pollutants are allowed. But quietly, and without any process for public comment, Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality has been approving diesel generator use for non-emergency conditions, meaning they are not subject to time limitations.
Nearly 1,937 non-emergency diesel generators have already been approved across the Commonwealth to power data centers, many clustered near homes, schools, and neighborhoods. Each of these shipping-container-sized engines is a major source of pollution on its own — but when dozens or even hundreds are concentrated on a single data center site, the risks multiply. Despite hundreds of Virginians opposing the pollution-friendly changes, Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality loosened the rules, making it easier for data centers to fire up diesel engines even when there isn’t a true emergency.
The health risks from diesel emissions are real and well-documented. Diesel exhaust releases fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other toxic pollutants that penetrate deep into the lungs, trigger asthma attacks, worsen heart and lung disease, and are linked to premature death. These pollutants also contribute to ground-level ozone — a known respiratory irritant that makes it harder to breathe, especially for children, seniors, and people with asthma. Allowing data centers to run diesel generators more often doesn’t just create noise or inconvenience — it puts real people’s health at risk every time those machines turn on.
Virginia’s lawmakers can’t ignore this any longer. The General Assembly needs to step in with clear, enforceable guardrails that limit when diesel generators can run, require transparency and cumulative pollution analysis, and push cleaner alternatives like battery storage instead of defaulting to diesel. Communities shouldn’t be asked to sacrifice clean air so Big Tech can cut costs or avoid investing in cleaner solutions. If Virginia wants to lead in innovation, it must also lead in protecting public health — starting with strong rules on diesel generators.