Mason District supervisor asks Planning Commission to reject data center substation
Fairfax County Supervisor Andres Jimenez is opposing a proposed Dominion Energy electrical substation in Lincolnia, intended to power planned data centers by Starwood Capital Group. Residents and other officials share concerns over environmental, visual, noise, and lighting impacts, with the Fairfax County Planning Commission set to review the substation proposal.
Fairfax County Supervisor Andres Jimenez has voiced strong opposition to a proposed electrical substation by Dominion Energy in Lincolnia, Virginia, which is intended to power upcoming data center developments. Jimenez, representing the Mason District, urged the Fairfax County Planning Commission to reject the Edsall Road substation and its associated transmission infrastructure at Plaza 500, citing shared resident concerns regarding visual, noise, lighting, and environmental impacts, as well as the burden of additional utility infrastructure.
The substation is crucial for a 34-acre data center project at Plaza 500, with Starwood Capital Group having filed permit applications for the first phase in July. This initial phase outlines a 75-foot-tall data center spanning over 226,469 square feet. While the data center itself appears to be a "by-right" use under current county zoning, local opposition has focused its efforts on challenging the substation through the county's review process.
Although Virginia’s State Corporation Commission has approved the transmission lines linking the proposed Edsall Road substation to the existing Van Dorn substation, the substation itself faces a critical public facilities 2232 review by the Fairfax County Planning Commission on September 24. This proposal has also drawn criticism from U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-8) and the Alexandria City Council. The Mason District Land Use Committee will make a recommendation on September 22. If the Fairfax County Planning Commission rejects the substation, Dominion Energy retains the option to appeal the decision to the Board of Supervisors.