Prince William residents call for 12-month pause on data center approvals
Prince William County residents are petitioning for a 12-month pause on data center applications requiring discretionary approval by the Board of County Supervisors. They want stronger rules on setbacks, noise, light pollution, infrastructure, water, electricity and environmental impacts, while Dominion Energy is separately involved in a legal dispute with the county over a proposed substation.
Residents and community advocates in Prince William County announced a petition seeking a 12-month pause on data center applications that require discretionary approval, including special-use permits, rezonings and comprehensive plan amendments. The proposed pause would give the county time to revise its design standards and other policies governing data center development, including rules on setbacks, noise, lighting and infrastructure.
The announcement took place outside an NTT data center complex in Gainesville, which organizers cited as an example of the scale of local development. Speakers including organizer Elena Schlossberg, Save Braemar Coalition member Rina Stapp and other county residents raised concerns about neighborhood impacts, water supplies, electricity costs, generator emissions and Dominion Energy infrastructure. Dominion is suing over the county Board of Supervisors' authority to deny the proposed Vint Hill SF6 substation.