Loudoun County votes to pause new data center applications
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 7-1-1 to advance a proposal for a temporary pause, up to 12 months, on new data center applications. This pause is intended to allow the county to develop new regulations addressing data centers and their community impacts. A final vote on the resolution is expected in October.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has voted to advance a proposal that would institute a temporary pause of up to 12 months on new data center applications. The vote, held on Tuesday night, September 16, 2026, was 7-1-1, directing county staff to draft a formal resolution for the temporary halt.
Board Chair Phyllis Randall clarified that the measure is not an indefinite moratorium, which the county's attorney advised would be illegal, but rather a temporary pause limited to a year. The purpose of this pause is to provide the county with time to develop new laws and regulations to address data centers and their impacts on local communities. Boardmember Kristen Umstattd voted against the proposal, while Boardmember Caleb Kershner abstained.
This decision comes amid ongoing contention in Loudoun County regarding data center development and the extensive power infrastructure required to support it. Homeowners in the area are also actively opposing a recent ruling that permits Dominion Energy to construct high-voltage transmission lines through their properties, specifically the nine-mile "Golden to Mars" project connecting two substations in eastern Loudoun County. Dominion Energy asserts the project is essential for ensuring grid reliability.
The resolution still requires a final vote from the Board of Supervisors, which is anticipated to occur in October.