Stafford County Planning Commission backs new 590K-square-foot data center complex
The Stafford County Planning Commission has approved the Accokeek Center, a 590,000-square-foot data center complex and electrical substation in Stafford County, Virginia. This decision was made despite significant community opposition concerned about property values, proximity to Accokeek Creek, and strain on the electrical grid. Developers argue the data centers will provide substantial tax revenue to county residents.
Stafford County, Virginia, is experiencing a data center development boom, with five complexes already approved and more on the way. The latest project to receive approval from the Planning Commission is the Accokeek Center, a 590,000-square-foot data center complex that would include two data centers and an electrical substation. The proposed site is located near the Rappahannock Regional Jail, off I-95 and Route 1.
During a four-hour meeting, community members voiced strong opposition to the proposal. Residents expressed concerns about the potential decrease in home values, the project's proximity to Accokeek Creek, and the additional strain on the already-stretched electrical grid, questioning the need for more large transmission lines. Kevin French, a Stafford County resident, emphasized the importance of locating data centers in appropriate areas, noting that many pending data center projects in Stafford involve rezoning areas not originally designated for heavy industrial use.
The developer's attorney stated that the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and Dominion Energy ultimately determine transmission line routes and assured that most homeowners would not see the data centers due to tree cover. The attorney also highlighted the financial benefits, projecting that the Accokeek Center would generate between $13 million and $15 million annually in tax revenue. Additionally, the attorney mentioned that the massive Stafford Technology Campus is expected to generate $150 million annually, equivalent to 50 Bucky's gas stations, to help alleviate the local tax burden, 84% of which currently falls on homeowners.