Loudoun County board pauses data center applications | NBC4 Washington
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has enacted a 12-month pause on new data center applications. This decision aims to allow the county time to develop new regulations addressing residents' concerns about health issues and the impact of data centers on communities, including electricity rates and environmental factors.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted tonight to implement a 12-month pause on new data center development applications. This resolution, passed with a 7-1 vote, is intended to give the county time to craft new laws concerning these facilities and their impact on nearby communities.
Board Chair (unnamed) clarified that the measure is not a ban or a moratorium but a temporary halt to allow for policy development. Loudoun County is currently home to 233 data centers, making it the largest concentration in the U.S. and a major hub for global internet traffic due to its historical ties to AOL's headquarters.
Residents have voiced complaints about health problems, specifically respiratory illnesses in young children, which they associate with gas turbine generators running constantly near data centers. Conversely, the construction industry has argued against a pause, citing the need for jobs and advocating for holding data center owners accountable to invest in local communities and infrastructure, including paying their own way for power to avoid higher rates for residents.