Column: Virginia should consider health effects of data center growth

A recent column in the Daily Press, penned by George Mason University researchers Neha Gour, Luis Ortiz, and Edward Maibach, asserts that Virginia's status as "Data Center Alley" poses significant public health risks that require immediate consideration from policymakers. Virginia hosts an estimated 70% of the world's internet traffic, with roughly 80% of its data centers concentrated in Loudoun, Prince William, and Fairfax counties, a footprint projected to double. The researchers' paper, published in "Frontiers in Climate," details how data centers' estimated 5,050 megawatts of power consumption, largely from fossil fuels, contribute to substantial air pollution linked to various lung, heart, and neurological diseases. They also note that over 4,000 backup diesel generators operate for tens of thousands of hours annually, emitting further pollutants. Furthermore, data centers consumed nearly 2 billion gallons of water in Northern Virginia in 2023, stressing local water sources and potentially polluting them with wastewater, which can lead to diarrheal illness and skin conditions. The industrial hum near homes and schools is also cited as a contributor to sleep disruption and heart disease, while rising electricity demand disproportionately impacts lower-income families. To mitigate these health harms, Gour, Ortiz, and Maibach propose several strategies: mandating renewable energy use, enforcing water limits during droughts, requiring noise reduction measures, and prioritizing data center sites on existing industrial land. They also suggest utility rate structures that ensure data center companies bear the full cost of their grid impact, preventing residential rate hikes. The authors emphasize the importance of transparent communication from health experts to inform public opinion and policy decisions, urging Virginia's policymakers to consider the full health implications of data center growth when making future decisions.