Mayor, Alexandria City Council ask Fairfax County to reject substation tied to data center

The Alexandria City Council, led by Mayor Alyia Gaskins, is advocating for the Fairfax County Planning Commission to deny an electrical substation application tied to a Starwood Capital Group data center project. The proposed data center at 6299 Edsall Road in Lincolnia, Fairfax County, borders Alexandria's West End, raising concerns about the industrial development's impact on the adjacent densely populated residential areas. The Council's formal letter emphasizes the potential for increased noise, environmental degradation, elevated energy and water consumption, and a decline in residents' quality of life.

Starwood Capital Group submitted permit applications for the 34-acre Plaza 500 site in July, with the first phase detailing a 75-foot-tall, 226,469-square-foot data center. Although the data center may be permitted by right under existing county zoning, local opposition has strategically focused on blocking the critical electrical substation required for its operation. U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-8), whose district includes Alexandria, has also formally requested the Planning Commission to deny the substation, stressing the importance of locating such large-scale industrial projects away from residential communities.

Tyler Ray, president of the Save Bren Mar Coalition, notes growing support from Alexandria residents who fear the substation's impacts, including diesel generator fumes, will transcend county lines. The coalition advocates for alternative developments, such as affordable housing. The Fairfax County Planning Commission is scheduled to conduct a public facilities review of the substation on September 24, following a recommendation from the Mason District Land Use Committee on September 22. Dominion Energy maintains the right to appeal any adverse decision regarding the substation to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.