Right now, big tech companies are requesting jaw-dropping amounts of electricity in Virginia. While many of these data centers are supporting useful technology, we can’t build new methane gas plants – or keep old, polluting coal plants online – to meet that demand if we want to transition to a zero-pollution electricity mix.
It’s simple: massive companies, which get huge tax breaks from the state, should be required to meet their electricity demands efficiently and with clean energy in order to qualify for those benefits. These companies have the cash and, sometimes, the intention of operating sustainably – we just need to make sure they make good on their green promises.
Sign the petition today: no Big Tech tax breaks for pollution!
We, the undersigned, are concerned about the effect that large tech companies are having on our clean energy transition. Building massive data centers that don’t run on clean energy or meet energy efficiency standards is a serious barrier to moving to a zero-carbon electricity grid.
That’s why we support a policy that would ensure that facilities are energy efficient and run on clean energy if they want to qualify for massive state tax incentives. While some Big Tech companies have green pledges, this would level the playing field to ensure that they all meet these same climate standards.
Sincerely,