Planning commission denies substation for data centers in Bristow

The Prince William County Planning Commission voted 5-3 to deny a public facilities review needed to build a 300-megawatt "Diamond Hill Substation" that would power new and existing data centers near the Devlin and Linton Hall roads area of Bristow. The substation was planned for 9.67 acres of a 67-acre parcel slated for data center development. Residents of the nearby Amberleigh Station and Silver Leaf Estates neighborhoods have been fighting the data center projects, which were rezoned for in 2021 and 2023, citing concerns over noise, environmental impacts, and health effects. The planning commission cited the substation's proximity to homes and sensitive environmental areas, as well as the constant noise it would generate, as reasons for denying the application. NOVEC, the utility company proposing the substation, has 10 days to appeal the decision or submit a modified proposal. The decision is seen as a win for the residents opposing the data center development in the area.