Prince William County board rejects data center proposal
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected a proposal for the 2,000-acre Dulles Cloud South data center campus. The decision to deny rezoning for the project was based on concerns about energy and water use, diesel generators, watershed protection, and avoiding piecemeal development.
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected a proposal to rezone approximately 2,000 acres of land from agricultural and forest to industrial, a decision that effectively blocks the proposed Dulles Cloud South data center campus. The project, also known as the Dulles South Innovation Center, aimed to bring 43 million square feet of data centers to property along Sanders Lane near the Loudoun County line.
The vote was 8-0 against the rezoning, with the board weighing the future development of the county against the preservation of its existing character. Opponents of the data center campus voiced significant concerns regarding increased energy consumption, the use of diesel generators, and the protection of the Occoquan and Potomac watersheds. County staff had recommended against the rezoning, stating it did not align with the county's master plan and would constitute "piecemeal development."
While some landowners on Sanders Road supported the project, hoping for revenue and infrastructure improvements, the board ultimately prioritized a more structured development approach. This decision follows a history of data center-related controversies in the county, including the "digital gateway project" which has been mired in lawsuits for years and was recently abandoned by both developers and the county. The board indicated a desire to maintain a good relationship with the data center industry but within designated opportunity zones, avoiding ad-hoc projects.