VA Residents Speak Out Against Local Data Center Noise Pollution
News Clip0:51The Dogwood·Sterling, Loudoun County, VA·6/22/2026
Residents in Sterling, Virginia, are experiencing severe noise pollution from a nearby data center that utilizes 24/7 natural gas turbines, leading to significant disruption in their daily lives. Some have resorted to extreme measures, like covering windows with mattresses and plexiglass, to block out the constant high-pitched noise. This highlights the negative impact of rapid data center expansion on local communities.
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Virginia is known as the data center capital of the world, home to hundreds of active facilities.
In Sterling, however, the rapid expansion has upended local lives. Some residents have resorted to covering their windows with mattresses and plexiglass to block out a relentless, high-pitched whine from a nearby facility. Unlike traditional centers drawing grid power, this site relies on around-the-clock natural gas turbines that run 24/7, leaving neighbors trapped in a constant wall of noise.