What’s happening in Virginia
Virginia hosts the largest concentration of data centers on earth — more than 600 operational facilities in Northern Virginia alone — and public sentiment has collapsed. A Washington Post/Schar School poll released in April 2026 found that only 35% of Virginia voters would be comfortable with a new data center in their community, down from 69% in 2023. Support for state tax breaks fell from 61% to 37% over the same period. Half of Virginia’s voters changed their minds in two years.
The $24.7 billion Prince William Digital Gateway — one of the largest data center proposals in U.S. history — collapsed in April 2026 after Compass pulled out following years of sustained community opposition. It was the single largest data center project kill on record.
Virginia’s experience is the canary in the coal mine for every other state. Loudoun County has the highest concentration of data centers in the world, and residents are living with the consequences: noise, traffic, strained utilities, and the visual blight of massive windowless warehouses replacing farmland. The moratorium bill (HB 1515) stalled in the legislature, but the political winds have clearly shifted. Over $1 billion in tax revenue has been given up through data center tax breaks — money that could have paid for schools, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Why Virginia residents are concerned
Grid overload. Virginia's data centers consume more electricity than any other state's. Dominion Energy has struggled to keep pace with interconnection requests. New data centers are approved faster than the grid can be built to serve them.
Noise and quality of life. Residents near data center clusters report persistent low-frequency noise from cooling systems operating 24/7, 365 days a year. Sound walls and setback requirements have proven inadequate.
Property values. Homes near data center developments have seen measurable declines in value. Industrial zoning changes permanently alter neighborhood character.
How to oppose a data center in Virginia
Attend your county commission or city council meetings. Local elected officials control zoning and land use decisions. Public comment periods are your most direct opportunity to voice opposition. Bring specific concerns — water impact, property values, electricity rates, noise — and reference relevant state and local legislation.
Send a formal opposition letter. Written opposition becomes part of the public record and carries significant weight with commissioners. Letters should cite specific concerns, reference relevant statutes, and be addressed to every commissioner by name. We handle this for you →
Organize your neighbors. Join or create a local opposition group. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. Strength in numbers changes votes.
Engage state legislators. Contact your state representative and senator. Tell them you support regulatory frameworks that protect communities from data center impacts — including moratoriums, ratepayer protections, and environmental review requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a data center moratorium in Virginia?
HB 1515 would halt all new data center approvals until grid-interconnection conditions are met. It was introduced by Delegate Irene Shin in January 2026.
How can I oppose a data center in Virginia?
Attend your county commission or city council meetings, submit formal opposition letters to your elected officials, and engage with state-level legislation. More than 268 community groups across 37 states are actively fighting data center developments. We can research your local officials and send a personalized opposition letter on your behalf for you.
How much water does a data center use?
A single hyperscale data center can consume up to 1 million gallons of water per day during peak cooling. AI data centers consumed roughly 17 billion gallons nationally in 2023, projected to reach 68 billion gallons by 2028.
Do data centers lower property values?
Research consistently shows that proximity to industrial infrastructure — including data centers — can negatively impact residential property values. Windowless warehouse-scale buildings, diesel generators, and continuous noise are incompatible with residential neighborhoods.