Prince William residents protest massive Dulles South data center proposal
Prince William County residents are protesting the proposed Dulles South Data Center Complex, a 2,000-acre project requiring rezoning for industrial use. The Board of Supervisors is considering the proposal, which opponents argue would negatively impact quality of life, property values, and the electric grid. The debate comes shortly after the abandonment of the similar Digital Gateway project.
Prince William County residents are actively protesting the proposed Dulles South Data Center Complex, a development that would span nearly 2,000 acres in western Prince William County and include approximately 43 million square feet of data center space. This proposal is double the size of the previously defeated Digital Gateway Data Center complex.
Ahead of a crucial Board of Supervisors meeting, residents from Prince William, Spotsylvania, and Loudoun counties rallied in Woodbridge, urging a vote against the project. Opponents argue that the development would adversely affect quality of life, property values, and strain the electric grid, further diminishing the county's rural character. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam stated that Northern Virginia is oversaturated with data centers and lacks adequate power infrastructure, leading to numerous high-voltage transmission lines.
The Dulles South proposal necessitates rezoning land currently designated for residential and agricultural use. While some residents near the site expressed openness to the project, preferring data centers over more residential neighborhoods and their associated traffic, supporters also highlight the potential for billions in tax revenue for local government and schools. The Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the proposal, which comes just days after the official abandonment of the long-running Prince William Digital Gateway project due to years of legal challenges and community opposition.