Virginia monitoring air quality in ‘data center alley'

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has initiated an air monitoring project in Loudoun County, home to the world's highest concentration of data centers, to investigate residents' long-standing concerns about air quality. The project, which has begun publishing initial results for particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide, aims to collect data on emissions, particularly from the diesel-powered backup generators used by data centers for monthly testing. Local residents, like Greg Pirio, have reported experiencing throat and lung irritation on days when these generators are active. The DEQ has deployed air sensors in seven locations within the "data center alley" and plans to relocate them to other areas, including Prince William County, which also hosts a significant number of data centers. Loudoun County Supervisor Mike Turner welcomed the DEQ's initiative, acknowledging the likelihood of some impact on air quality from over 250 data centers in a 30-square-mile area. He emphasized the need for factual data to inform future county decisions and potentially encourage data centers to adopt lower-emission equipment. Pirio, while cautiously optimistic, suggested the monitoring might be a response to public pressure or corporate desire to alleviate public fears.