Hundreds protest as Prince William supervisors weigh largest data center project in county history

Hundreds of residents gathered outside the Prince William County government complex on Tuesday to protest the proposed Dulles South Innovation Center, a data center project described as nearly twice the size of the recently blocked Digital Gateway proposal. Organized by the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, protesters voiced concerns that the project would negatively impact water quality, quality of life, and property values due to the need for massive new power lines.

Board chair DeShandra Jefferson, a known critic of data centers, questioned the long-term benefits of such developments, suggesting that the tax revenue might not be worth the community sacrifice. However, the overflow crowd inside the meeting also included a large group of property owners, primarily from Haymarket and Gainesville, who wore "yes" stickers. These landowners expressed their desire to sell their farms to the developer of Dulles South, arguing that their communities are already heavily impacted by traffic and power lines and that the proposed location is suitable for a data center. They stand to lose substantial financial gains if the project is blocked.

Prince William County staff had recommended that the Board of Supervisors vote against the plan. A request from the data center proponents to delay the vote was denied by the board shortly before public comments began. The public comment period was expected to last several hours, with a vote scheduled to take place the same night that would either advance or stop the project, leaving a significant impact on Prince William County residents.