[REVISION HISTORY]

Loudoun County data center expansion and regulation

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2026-09-19 20:12 UTC → 2026-10-20 02:28 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. More recently, the Board of Supervisors has considered a 12-month pause on new data center and substation applications. This proposed resolution would be retroactively effective as of September 15, 2026, though exceptions would be made for projects intended to improve grid reliability. The measure aims to slow growth to allow officials to finalize regulations for industry oversight and neighborhood protection. While the sector is expected to contribute $1.3 billion in taxes in the 2027 fiscal year, residents continue to raise concerns regarding noise, fumes, and the visual impact of massive, windowless buildings.

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