Richmond,
VA -
Yesterday, House Bill 1699, which aims to promote and expand our data center
industry in the Commonwealth by providing tax incentives to data centers, passed
unanimously in the Senate.
On
Febuary 5, the House of Delegates passed House Bill 1699 by a vote of 95-5.
Senate Bill 1133, an identical bill introduced by Senator Ryan McDougle (R-4),
was also passed in the House earlier this week with a strong bipartisan vote of
94-4. Delegate Comstock (R-34) introduced this legislation and has continued to
work with the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the tech community to
build upon her data center bill that passed last year.
Delegate
Comstock released the following statement:
"This legislation will build on my
successful legislation last year that provided state tax incentives to keep this
important industry here in the Commonwealth. We have already had companies
relocate or expand here in Virginia as a result of our legislation last
year."
"The
data center industry is projected to grow by hundreds of millions of dollars in
the coming years. This bill will help Virginia continue to be a leader in this
21st century marketplace. I am thankful for the wide bipartisan support this
bill has received from my colleagues in the House and Senate. Data center jobs
and investment are a critical element in diversifying Virginia's technology
economy and attracting private sector jobs as federal spending and procurement
decreases."
Each
day, 70 percent of the world's Internet traffic passes through Loudoun County.
In 2012, data center companies such as Equinix, Latisys and DuPont Fabros have
expanded in Virginia along with industry
leaders: Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon. Loudoun County recently announced 3
million square feet of new data centers under contract or construction in
addition to Loudoun County's existing 5 million square feet of facilities.