Speakers at Leesburg rally call for statewide data center moratorium
About 130 people rallied in Leesburg to call for a moratorium on new data centers across Virginia. Participants cited environmental, public health and quality-of-life concerns, while data centers are projected to generate $1.3 billion in revenue for Loudoun County in fiscal 2027.
Supporters of a statewide data center moratorium rallied outside the Charles Hamilton Houston Courthouse in Leesburg on Oct. 17. The event drew about 130 participants, including Broadlands resident Dominika Cardotte, Fairfax County resident Douglas Stewart and Sterling resident Greg Pirio.
Jared Mummert, senior data center reform campaign coordinator with the Piedmont Environmental Council, was among the speakers. Critics said the economic benefits of data centers, including a projected $1.3 billion in fiscal 2027 revenue for Loudoun County, do not outweigh concerns about environmental impacts, public health and community quality of life.