Loudoun delays data center review as county warns of up to $60M in legal risk
Loudoun County supervisors delayed consideration of a proposal to review 15 data center applications that were submitted under older county rules. The proposed review would cost up to $200,000 and examine whether projects without building permits still retain legal protections, while residents debate development and public notice.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors postponed action on a proposal to commission an independent review of 15 data center applications still being processed under the county's former rules. The applications represent 30 proposed buildings, and the review would examine developers' investments, project progress and whether the projects retain legal rights to proceed under grandfathered regulations. The county warned that the issue could carry up to $60 million in legal exposure.
The proposal could not be considered at the meeting because the supervisor who introduced it did not submit the motion by the required deadline under Virginia law. Supervisors are expected to revisit it in several weeks. Some speakers urged the county to honor prior commitments so related infrastructure and construction can move forward, while other residents called for greater notice and public participation before projects are effectively locked in.