Loudoun Updates Data Center Regulations in Response to State Code Changes
Loudoun County has implemented new requirements for high-energy-use facility applications, primarily data centers, including estimates of energy, water and noise impacts. The changes follow new Virginia laws and come as county officials consider additional generator-noise rules, a possible pause on some applications and broader data center regulations.
Loudoun County now requires applications for high-energy-use facilities, generally defined as projects requiring at least 100 megawatts, to address energy, water and noise impacts. Applications must include sound profiles for nearby homes and schools, utility information about substations and transmission needs, and potentially assessments of effects on water, agricultural land, parks, historic sites and forests.
The requirements implement changes in Virginia law and apply to current and future legislative land-use applications. County officials are also considering generator-noise restrictions, decommissioning rules, a 12-month pause on processing some data center applications and a broader zoning ordinance update covering data centers and related infrastructure. Supervisor Michael Turner said the new framework is needed but acknowledged that applying the standards retroactively to Loudoun's 233 existing data centers will be difficult.
The article also reports that County Chair Phyllis J. Randall reached an agreement with Amazon under which the company withdrew controversial plans for data centers at the George Washington University campus in exchange for a fast-tracked rezoning application for housing. Officials and residents continue to debate data centers' community, environmental and infrastructure impacts, while industry and business leaders emphasize their economic benefits.