Loudoun County supervisors advance 12-month data center moratorium
Loudoun County's Board of Supervisors advanced a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center projects, sparking debate among residents. Concerns about power demand and proximity to homes are driving the push for a pause, while electrical workers and supporters highlight the economic benefits and job creation from the data center industry.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in Leesburg, Virginia, has advanced a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center projects. This temporary halt would only apply to new applications, as the county's attorney clarified that an indefinite moratorium is not legally permissible.
The decision comes amidst significant community division. Residents, including Ashley Warmeling, have voiced concerns over the rapid growth of data centers, citing increased demand for power, which necessitates high-voltage transmission lines near homes, schools, and backyards. They are determined to push back against further development.
Conversely, supporters of the data center industry, particularly over 1,000 electrical workers from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Union, fear that a moratorium could jeopardize their jobs and disrupt essential work for powering these tech facilities. Don Slaiman of the union described workers feeling like a "ball of yarn" caught between opposing parties. Supporters also point to the substantial economic contributions of data centers, which generate more than half of the county's budget and fund local services like schools and parks.
Some supervisors have also questioned the temporary halt, expressing concerns that it could lead to issues with grid reliability across the region. The resolution requires a final vote, with the Board of Supervisors scheduled to revisit the discussion on October 13.