Developers seek to revive data center next to Virginia battlefield

QTS Realty Trust is appealing to the Virginia Supreme Court in an effort to proceed with the Digital Gateway, a massive 37-building data center complex planned for Prince William County, Virginia. The appeal was filed shortly after another unnamed developer withdrew from the project, citing ongoing legal challenges. The project, slated for a tract adjacent to the Manassas National Battlefield Park, has faced significant local opposition. Residents and the American Battlefield Trust have raised concerns regarding the area's historical significance and potential environmental impacts, particularly from the 14 planned electric substations and hundreds of diesel generators. In April, the Virginia Court of Appeals sided with opponents, halting construction. The court ruled that Prince William County leaders had failed to provide proper public notice for a 2023 hearing during which the Board of Supervisors had approved the development. This decision gave QTS Realty Trust and Compass Datacenters, the project's joint proposers, until April 30 to appeal to the state's highest court, a deadline QTS met with their recent filing. The developers are now seeking to overturn the Appeals Court's ruling and revive the project, which has been mired in controversy and legal battles.