Proposed 2,000-acre data center in Prince William stirs debate | NBC4 Washington
A proposed 2,000-acre data center campus in Prince William County, Virginia, is facing significant opposition and debate. Hundreds of residents are speaking before the Board of Supervisors, who are considering the initial stage of approval, while county staff recommend against the project. A state senator is also calling for a statewide moratorium on data centers.
A proposal to construct a nearly 2,000-acre hyperscale data center campus in rural western Prince William County, Virginia, has ignited significant debate. This massive development, located in the Gainesville district south of Dulles Airport, would be larger than the University of Maryland campus and comparable to 22 Tysons Corner Center malls. Hundreds of residents are addressing the Prince William Board of Supervisors, with strong opinions both for and against the project.
While some residents, like Josiah Hunter, are under contract with developers and find the offers for their land attractive
—though not reaching the million-dollar-per-acre figures seen elsewhere in Northern Virginia
—a considerable opposition has emerged. Federal, state, and local politicians, including State Senator Danica Roem, have joined the opposition. Senator Roem advocates for a statewide moratorium on data centers, citing concerns about community impact, such as multiple high-voltage transmission lines and substations near homes.
Prince William County staff are recommending that the Board of Supervisors not advance the project. However, this is anticipated to be the initial phase of a multi-year conflict between residents and "Big tech" developers.