Loudoun County is considering rolling back protections on data centers
Loudoun County supervisors are considering ending a grandfathering policy that allows more than a dozen data center projects to proceed under older regulations. County staff warn that reversing the policy could trigger lawsuits, expose taxpayers to tens of millions of dollars in costs and undermine confidence in the county’s business commitments and data center tax revenue.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is weighing whether to end early a grandfathering resolution adopted alongside tighter data center regulations last year. The resolution allows projects already in the pipeline to continue under the previous rules, and more than a dozen developments could be affected by a rollback.
The proposal comes amid growing public opposition to data centers. County staff cautioned that developers could sue if their projects lose grandfathered status, potentially creating tens of millions of dollars in legal fees and damages. Officials also warned that the move could affect the county’s bond ratings, tax revenue and reputation among businesses that rely on government commitments.