Commonwealth Institute researcher: Affordability hinges on ensuring data centers pay their fair share of taxes

A Commonwealth Institute researcher argues that data centers, which benefit significantly from state infrastructure and resources, should contribute more in state taxes to help keep costs affordable for all Virginia residents. This push for higher taxes from the data center industry comes amid growing concerns about the financial burden on taxpayers to support essential services while these facilities continue to expand. The implication here is that ensuring fair taxation could lead to more equitable distribution of financial responsibilities, benefiting the broader community.