I’m Ondra Torkilson, Norfolk City resident, speaking to represent myself and my fellow community members who deserve affordable, clean, renewable energy. I support HB658 and HB503 to ensure that data centers cover the cost of their own energy rather than passing the cost onto ratepayers. I support HB155 to require the maximum possible clean energy to power data centers to help reduce the impacts of climate change. I am unable to attend the meeting in person today at 4:30pm, as I am picking up my daughter from school at that time.

I’m Laura Dent, Harrisonburg City Council Member, speaking to represent only myself, not for City Council. I support HB658 and HB503 to ensure that data centers cover the cost of their own energy rather than passing the cost onto ratepayers. I support HB155 to require the maximum possible clean energy to power data centers to help reduce the impacts of climate change.

I’m Laura Dent, Harrisonburg City Council Member, speaking to represent only myself, not for City Council. I support HB658 and HB503 to ensure that data centers cover the cost of their own energy rather than passing the cost onto ratepayers. I support HB155 to require the maximum possible clean energy to power data centers to help reduce the impacts of climate change.

HB155 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair and members. My name is Edwuan Whitehead, Public Policy Director for the Center for Common Ground. I support HB155. Many Virginians face barriers when public processes lack clarity or consistency. These difficulties limit access to services and civic engagement, especially in rural, low income, and marginalized communities. HB155 strengthens transparency and helps ensure residents can navigate systems with confidence. We urge your support. HB658 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair. I am Edwuan Whitehead with the Center for Common Ground. I support HB658. Residents across the Commonwealth struggle with unclear instructions, limited broadband, and transportation challenges that block access to essential services. HB658 improves responsiveness and creates more equitable pathways for residents seeking support. This bill moves Virginia toward a fairer and more accessible public system. We ask for your support. HB503 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair. My name is Edwuan Whitehead and I support HB503 on behalf of the Center for Common Ground. Families we serve rely on predictable and understandable public processes. When requirements are confusing or communication is inconsistent, unnecessary burdens fall on those with the least time and resources. HB503 improves clarity and strengthens accountability, helping restore trust between residents and the systems that serve them. We urge passage of HB503. HB1256 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair and members. I am Edwuan Whitehead, Public Policy Director for the Center for Common Ground. I support HB1256. The communities we serve regularly face delays and procedural confusion that keep them from receiving essential services. HB1256 helps modernize these pathways by improving usability and reducing avoidable obstacles. This bill supports equity, stability, and more efficient service delivery. We respectfully request your support. HB1075 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair. My name is Edwuan Whitehead and I support HB1075. Residents across Virginia describe how unclear procedures and inconsistent communication prevent them from meeting obligations or accessing critical resources. HB1075 strengthens access and fairness for families who balance work, caregiving, and travel limitations. This bill helps ensure government processes function as intended, with clarity and consistency. We ask the committee to advance HB1075. HB591 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair. I am Edwuan Whitehead with the Center for Common Ground. I support HB591. Virginians often encounter delays and procedural hurdles that create avoidable hardship and discourage civic engagement. HB591 increases transparency, improves access, and brings much needed consistency to systems relied on by vulnerable households. This bill helps ensure public services meet the needs of all communities. We urge your support for HB591. HB1379 – Support Good afternoon Mister Chair and members. My name is Edwuan Whitehead and I support HB1379. Many families across the Commonwealth face real barriers when navigating public systems, especially those managing multiple jobs, caregiving responsibilities, or limited transportation. HB1379 improves clarity, lowers procedural burdens, and supports more equitable outcomes. This bill allows residents to engage with greater stability and confidence. We respectfully request passage of HB1379.

My neighbors and I should not bear the costs for high-load facilities like Big Tech’s data centers. I respectfully urge you to support this bill.

I support HB 503 and HB 658 which provide reasonable regulations enabling oversight of data centers’ high levels of energy usage. These bills will help with preventing data centers’ energy demands from harming Virginians’ grid and increasing costs for ratepayers. Virginia has more data centers than anywhere in the world; our bills could increase by $14 to $37 per month to cover the power demands of these large facilities owned by major tech corporations.

This submission contains written testimony in support of House Bill 503, expressing support for the bill’s core intent to prevent data-center-driven electric infrastructure costs from being shifted to residential and small business ratepayers. The testimony also provides targeted, constructive recommendations to strengthen the bill’s enforceability, transparency, and consumer protections, including clarifications related to cost recovery, accounting, auditing, and prevention of cost shifting.

I support HB503 because I feel it is totally unfair to make residential customers pay for electrical infrastructure that would be unnecessary were it not for the proliferation of these high energy data centers. Please vote yes on HB503.