Data center developers are eyeing a potential location in one of DC's closest suburbs
A proposed data center and its associated electrical substation are facing significant local opposition in Fairfax County, Virginia, specifically on Edsel Road near the Alexandria border. Residents are concerned about noise, decreased home values, and the project's proximity to residential areas. While state regulators approved the substation, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Land Use Committee still need to grant local approval, which residents are urging them to deny.
Data center developers, identified as Starwood Digital Ventures, are proposing to build a new data center and an electrical substation on Edsel Road in Fairfax County, Virginia, right at the border with Alexandria. This project is in its early stages but has already sparked significant pushback from homeowners and businesses in the densely populated suburban communities.
Residents, including Mary who moved to the neighborhood in 2021, expressed shock and concern over the potential impacts. Key worries include constant humming noise from backup generators, which could affect sleep, and a negative impact on home values. Mary, a realtor, noted that some neighbors have already lost bids on their homes, forcing them to lower asking prices by $100,000 or more, after buyers learned about the proposed data center and substation nearby.
While state regulators have approved the substation, the project still requires approval from Fairfax County's Land Use Committee and Board of Supervisors. Homeowners are actively campaigning for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to reject the substation, hoping to effectively halt the data center project. Concerns were raised about the proposed 200-foot setback, which residents argue is insufficient given the project's proximity to homes, contrasting with what they believe the Planning Commission's better judgment would have been.
Dominion Energy is scheduled to give a presentation to Fairfax County residents about the proposed substation at a meeting at the Mason Governmental Center. Starwood Digital Ventures released a statement indicating the substation is designed to enhance power reliability for essential services and small businesses.