Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia

Virginia's Economic Forecast: Recovery delayed? Increasing inflation, lower GDP, and rising unemployment all in the outlook for the rest of 2026. Find out more at https://www.coopercenter.org/research/forecast-may-2026

While the approach to data centers varies from state to state, there are areas where policy makers throughout the Great Lakes can work together to benefit their communities. These include tax subsidies, energy regulation and transmission, water supply, broadband, and land use, to name a few. Learn more: https://shorturl.at/jhJb4

Local governments across Virginia are competing to attract data centers, even as concerns grow about their impact on communities. Weldon Cooper Center economist João Ferreira warned this dynamic can lead to a “race to the bottom,” with localities loosening regulations to secure investment. To read more, visit https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/04/24/local-governments-race-attract-data-centers-often-spite-concerns-their-constituents/.

Illinois data centers demand the most electricity in the Great Lakes currently — already 7% of statewide consumption and slated to surpass 15% by 2030 — while data centers represent less than 0.6% of state employment. This report gives Illinois leaders the tools to prepare for what’s next. Learn more: https://shorturl.at/jhJb4

Legal challenges over Virginia Beach’s voting system have been resolved after the General Assembly codified the city’s 10-district election structure into its charter. The system, approved by voters, follows years of legal disputes over representation. The Weldon Cooper Center supported the process through community engagement efforts to gather resident feedback on the new system. To read more, visit https://www.whro.org/news/local-news/2026-04-16/legal-cases-about-virginia-beachs-voting-system-conclude.

Weldon Cooper Center data shows nearly 78% of utility-scale solar projects in Virginia have been approved since 2013. New legislation would require localities to review solar proposals individually, as debate continues over energy needs and local control. To read more, visit https://www.smithfieldtimes.com/news/bills-proposing-ban-on-bans-for-solar-farms-reach-spanberger-fab947de.

Gov. Spanberger has approved new economic development deals aimed at creating more than 3,000 jobs and generating $7.1 billion in investment across the Commonwealth. However, Weldon Cooper Center data shows the state lost 6,600 manufacturing jobs in 2025 and is projected to lose another 4,600 in 2026, highlighting ongoing challenges in the sector even as new projects move forward. To read more, visit https://vadogwood.com/2026/04/07/spanberger-signs-bills-expected-to-create-more-than-3000-jobs-in-virginia/.

The number of data centers in Indiana will double in the next five years and energy use will increase five-fold in the next five years, raising key planning questions. The Cooper Center’s analysis explores the challenges for and pressure on the grid infrastructure in the region. Learn more: https://shorturl.at/jhJb4

Data centers increasingly shape energy consumption and production in Virginia. Cooper Center economist João Ferreira joins a panel of scholars and industry experts at the annual Virginia Solar Summit to discuss best practices in energy policy for Virginia’s future.