# Loudoun County data center expansion and regulation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/loudoun-county-data-center-expansion-and-regulation
> Updated: 2026-09-19T19:00:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

Loudoun County officials are navigating the complexities of rapid data center expansion, balancing significant economic benefits against growing community opposition.

Initially, the Board of Supervisors focused on evaluating approval processes and the legal implications of changing regulations for developers. The board emphasized the industry’s importance to the county’s AAA credit rating, noting that the approximately 250 existing data centers generate roughly $1.3 billion in annual revenue. Legal staff were tasked with assessing the risks of altering requirements for projects grandfathered under previous rules.

As the situation progressed, local opposition intensified due to concerns over noise pollution. Residents reported disruptive, high-pitched whistling sounds caused by gas turbines used at certain sites, such as the Ashburn II Data Centre Campus, instead of grid connections. In response to this public outcry, the board of supervisors voted to support a pause on new data center approvals following a period of massive growth that saw over 10 million square feet of space permitted in 2025.

## Claims

- Loudoun County has approximately 250 data centres operating or under construction. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- An estimated 70 per cent of global internet traffic passes through or is created in Loudoun County. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- In 2025, the county issued permits for more than 10 million square feet of data centre space. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The Loudoun County board of supervisors voted to support a pause on data centre approvals. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Some data centre facilities, such as the Ashburn II Data Centre Campus, use gas turbines for power instead of the electricity grid. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-19: Loudoun County officials support pause on data centre approvals

Loudoun County, Virginia, officials have voted to support a pause on data centre approvals following resident complaints regarding noise and rapid industrial expansion in the global data hub.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/loudoun-county-officials-support-pause-on-data-centre-approvals

### 2026-09-02: Loudoun County evaluates data center approval processes

Loudoun County supervisors are reviewing data center approval processes, citing the industry's $1.3 billion annual revenue and its critical role in maintaining the county's top-tier AAA credit rating.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/loudoun-county-evaluates-data-center-approval-processes

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Cite as: Loudoun County data center expansion and regulation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/loudoun-county-data-center-expansion-and-regulation