Prince William County considers tighter data center rules

Prince William County supervisors are expected to vote on a proposal that would end by-right development for data centers. Under the current policy, qualifying facilities can be built in designated areas without approval from the Board of County Supervisors. The proposed change would require the board to approve every future data center project. Board Chair Deshundra Jefferson says the existing policy is outdated because data centers have become larger, taller and, in some cases, noisier since the county created its data center overlay district. Supporters point to the industry’s growing data-storage needs and the hundreds of millions of dollars in local tax revenue it generates. Opponents have raised concerns about energy demand, electric bills, noise and industrial development near homes and sensitive areas. Ending by-right development would not ban new data centers, but it would give county supervisors the final say over each proposal. READ MORE: https://wjla.com/news/local/prince-william-county-data-centers-by-right-development-board-supervisors-deshundra-jefferson-virginia-zoning-approval-energy-power-tax-revenue-tuesday-vote #PrinceWilliamCounty #DataCenters #Virginia #NorthernVirginia #LocalNews _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: 7News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/7NewsDC/ 7News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/7NewsDC 7News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7newsdc Subscribe to WJLA on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfIjR00qhYUFkbWIugAAbGg/?sub_confirmation=1 Daily News Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSvyoe-YmPKDGkW96ly8Qt_JR67erE_zt For more information, visit https://wjla.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: newsdesk@wjla.com Call the Newsroom: 703.236.9480 WJLA is the local ABC affiliate for the greater Washington DC area. From our studios in Arlington, VA ABC7 covers national and local news, sports, and weather. #WJLA #DCNews #7NewsDC This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com