Neighbors Stopped the World’s Largest Data Center Complex
Residents in Prince William County, Virginia, successfully halted the massive Digital Gateway data center project following years of opposition and legal battles. QTS withdrew its Supreme Court appeal, and Compass had previously exited, effectively killing the development adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park. The victory highlights broader issues like rising electricity costs, water consumption, and tax incentives for data centers.
Uriah Kiser, host of the Virginia Insider channel, reported on a significant victory for residents in Prince William County, Virginia, who successfully stopped the proposed Digital Gateway data center complex. This project, which would have been the world's largest data center complex with 27 million square feet, was slated for land adjacent to Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Kiser detailed that after five years of effort, including numerous 27-hour hearings and extensive court battles, the developers have withdrawn from the project. QTS, one of the key developers, withdrew its final Supreme Court appeal, effectively ending the project, while Compass Datacenters had already pulled out. The community's sustained opposition was crucial in preventing the development, which locals deemed unsuitable for land near "hallowed ground."
The incident, occurring around Independence Day, was framed as a local declaration of independence against unchecked development. Kiser noted that while data centers are important for technology like AI, unchecked growth raises concerns about exploding power bills for Virginians, increased water competition, and a lack of permanent jobs, as well as the controversy surrounding $2 billion in state tax breaks. Virginia currently hosts over 600 data centers, more than any other place globally, with more expected.