See where diesel-powered data center generators are polluting Virginia
A new analysis reveals that diesel backup generators at data centers in Virginia produce significant pollution, causing public health impacts equivalent to multiple large power plants. Residents in Sterling, VA, are experiencing black smoke and health irritation, while state and federal regulators consider expanding generator usage to support the electric grid. The issue is sparking opposition and regulatory changes in Virginia and other states.
A new analysis conducted for The Washington Post by Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Washington reveals that the 10,500 diesel backup generators at data centers across Virginia produce enough pollution to harm public health, even with infrequent use. Residents like Jessica Medeiros and Greg Pirio in Sterling, Virginia, report black smoke and health irritation near facilities like the Vantage data center (VA2 campus), which also uses an on-site gas power plant due to grid issues.
The analysis, based on state air permits and reported emissions through the end of 2024 for 132 Northern Virginia data centers, found that operating generators for less than an hour per week, on average, creates a public health impact comparable to five large gas-fired power stations. This could worsen lung and cardiovascular conditions and cause at least three premature deaths annually in the region. Furthermore, if generators operated at their full permitted capacity, the impact could rise to 27 premature deaths, concentrated in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. A separate study by University of California at Riverside and California Institute of Technology researchers suggests 14,000 annual asthma episodes.
State and industry officials, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Data Center Coalition, questioned the findings, citing government modeling that indicates more limited effects on air quality. However, Energy Secretary Chris Wright has repeatedly authorized power grid operators like PJM Interconnection to direct data centers to use their generators more frequently to alleviate strain on regional grids struggling with surging tech industry demand. This push for increased generator use by federal agencies is seen by some as potentially exacerbating pollution.
Companies like Amazon and Microsoft, which operate significant data center footprints in Virginia, stated they run generators rarely and are implementing cleaner technologies, such as renewable diesel. Meanwhile, other states are also grappling with these issues; Delaware regulators recently rejected a data center plan due to pollution concerns from its 516 backup diesel generators. Separately, Elon Musk's xAI faces a federal lawsuit from the NAACP over alleged illegal operation and air pollution from its data center in Memphis, Tennessee, a case in which the Trump administration has indicated possible intervention.