Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) defended the economic and national security importance of the state’s booming data center industry this week, days after approving a budget that imposes Virginia’s first tax on the sector’s electricity consumption.

Spanberger said the new budget strikes a balance between ensuring data centers “pay their fair share” while preserving an industry she said is critical to Virginia’s economy and the nation’s technological leadership in an interview with Politico.

Read more in the Washington Examiner here.

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