Loudoun supervisors propose terminating grandfather provisions for data centers
Two Loudoun County supervisors are proposing to eliminate "grandfathering" provisions that currently allow over 20 data center applications to bypass stricter public review introduced in 2025. This initiative aims to subject pending projects to greater scrutiny due to significant community concerns regarding data center growth's impact on electricity infrastructure, noise, and natural resources. Additionally, the county is considering a temporary moratorium on new data center applications.
Loudoun County Supervisors Juli E. Briskman and Laura A. TeKrony have announced an initiative to terminate the county's 2025 data center "grandfathering" resolution. This existing resolution currently permits over 20 pending data center applications to proceed via a by-right administrative review, thereby circumventing the Special Exception requirement now mandated for new data center projects following comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance changes enacted in March 2025.
Briskman and TeKrony, who initially opposed the 5-4 vote for the grandfathering resolution, plan to introduce an amendment at the board's September 1 meeting. This amendment would lead to the immediate expiration of the resolution upon adoption. Supervisor Briskman stated that Loudoun residents have voiced clear concerns about the negative impacts of "unconstrained data center growth," advocating for increased public scrutiny of these projects. Supervisor TeKrony echoed these sentiments, highlighting that the county's electric grid and community are nearing a "breaking point" due to data center sprawl, which is contributing to the proliferation of unsightly power lines and substations.
Loudoun County is home to over 250 data centers, encompassing approximately 53 million square feet of development and generating more than $1 billion in annual local tax revenue. However, this growth has intensified demand for electrical infrastructure and raised concerns about utility costs, noise, air quality, natural resource impacts, and the displacement of attainable housing. This new proposal aligns with recent actions, including the board's July vote to direct staff to develop a potential moratorium on new data center applications for consideration on September 15, though County Attorney Leo Rogers is reviewing its legality under Virginia law.
Furthermore, the county is progressing with the second phase of its Data Center Standards and Locations initiative, with new regulations addressing setbacks, power usage, height, noise levels, and emissions expected by early 2027. Other Virginia localities, such as Frederick County, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach, are also exploring or implementing similar restrictions or moratoriums on data center development, reflecting a broader regional trend.