A Swing State Speaks: In New Poll, Virginia Voters Say Clean Energy Can Drive Down Energy Costs and Meet Data-Center Driven Demand
With approximately 230 buildings, Loudoun County, Virginia is home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers. On September 16, the Loudoun County board paused data center applications. (Photo © 2025 Beyond DC/Flickr CC BY-NC 4.0)
RICHMOND — Virginia voters grappling with the biggest concentration of data centers in the world are extremely or very concerned about household electricity bills, and across party lines want data centers to provide nearby communities with direct relief on their electricity bills, pay for new infrastructure and use renewable energy, and have utilities be transparent about how much of the grid is utilized before building new infrastructure to meet demand, according to a new statewide poll commissioned by Deploy Action and the Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance and conducted by Embold Research.
The findings in the critical swing state illustrate how the issue of affordability at a time of historic increases in demand for electricity and rising electricity prices transcends party affiliation and will be a key issue at the state and federal level for policymakers.
“The results should be a wakeup call for anyone in office or running for office, regardless of party, to pay attention to the issue of energy affordability in this critical election year,” said Arnab Pal, executive director of Deploy Action. “It is time for policymakers to shift the cost burden for meeting increasing demand away from the kitchen table and into corporate deep pockets. There are ways to address data center buildout and increasing electrification affordably that should be adopted, such as transparency into grid utilization and allowing distributed clean energy resources to contribute to the grid.”
Key findings include:
Voters are concerned about high electricity costs. Two in three voters are extremely or very concerned with what they are paying for electricity, including 86% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans.
A plurality of voters blame growing energy demand for rising energy bills. 46% of respondents thought that growing demand for energy including from AI data centers was most responsible for rising energy bills.
Voters see renewable energy as a solution. Seven in ten voters, including a majority of Republicans, support making it easier for public entities to put solar panels on buildings and to connect to the grid.
Over three-quarters of voters opposed data centers in their local area. 69% of respondents opposed data centers being developed in Virginia and 77% opposed data center development in their local area (compared to 59% opposed for their development in the U.S. more broadly).
Voters are more likely to support data centers when they commit to lower voters’ energy costs or deliver benefits to their communities. 76% of voters – including 80% of independents and two-thirds of Republicans – support data center developers funding improvements that lower nearby resident's bills by 20% or more.
Voters overwhelmingly want data centers to pay for their power and want it to be clean. Nine in ten voters support requiring data centers to pay the full cost of new energy infrastructure. Voters also support requiring they generate their own power, including 82% who support requiring this energy to be renewable.
Voters want utilities to fully use the existing grid before building more. 78% of voters – including 80% of independents and 75% of Republicans – want utilities to show they are getting the most out of the grid before building more. Over half of voters also back strategies that would offer financial incentives once utilities demonstrate they are using the existing grid more efficiently.
The poll was conducted by surveying 1,017 registered voters in Virginia from August 26 - 31, 2026. The full poll findings are available in Deploy Action and Embold Research’s slide deck. Find results here: deploy-action.org/virginiapolling.
###
ABOUT DEPLOY ACTION
Deploy Action is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers to clean energy deployment at the state level. Our organization champions smart, equitable energy reforms that prioritize grid reliability, regional coordination, and consumer affordability. We’re technology-neutral and results-focused. Deploy Action supports deploying energy technology solutions that lower costs, improve reliability, and strengthen economic competitiveness. https://www.deploy-action.org/
MEDIA CONTACT: Dina Cappiello, dina@lifecyclecommunications.com