Delegate Thomas’ HB 2027, as amended by a substitute, proposed a new SCC‑administered certification process for new “high‑load facilities” — projects that the substitute defined as new facilities with demand of 100 megawatts or more. The substitute also added a requirement that the SCC find no material adverse effect on an incumbent utility’s ability to comply with applicable environmental and energy laws, established a 180‑day timeline for the commission’s final order, and authorized an applicant fee to cover administrative costs.

Supporters (including the Southern Environmental Law Center, Appalachian Voices, the National Parks Conservation Association, and Clean Virginia) said the measure is meant to address an expanding “load” problem described in the JLARC data‑center study and to ensure grid reliability and alignment with Virginia Clean Economy Act goals. Witnesses told the committee the JLARC report shows growth scenarios that make meeting clean‑energy goals difficult if load growth is left unchecked.

Opponents — including Dominion Energy, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the Data Center Coalition and several business and trade groups — said the bill would add substantial regulatory delay, create uncertainty for economic development, potentially discourage major investments, and duplicate or preempt processes already managed by the State Corporation Commission. Several witnesses warned the bill could “pick winners and losers” among competing applicants and cited ongoing SCC technical conferences and reviews as preferable venues for addressing load and transmission concerns.

The patron acknowledged opponents’ concerns but said the bill was the only concrete proposal at the hearing to address front‑end load management and urged continued conversation. After testimony and discussion, Delegate Herring moved to lay the bill on the table; the motion carried 9–0, effectively pausing further committee action at this time.