Virginia is subsidizing billions of dollars in data center development on the backs of its ratepayers, without a full understanding of the long-term ramifications.
Prince William County
Land use issues in Prince William County have an outsized impact on PEC’s nine-county region, considering its proximity to Fauquier and Loudoun.
![Initial Transmission Proposals – PEC Web Map](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/images/energy/transmission/PowerLine016lightened-1024x768.jpg)
Initial Transmission Proposals – PEC Web Map
Transmission line proposals to serve the explosive growth of data centers in Virginia over the past few years have begun to roll in.
![PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Virginia’s Clean Energy Future](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/data_center_ashburn_loudoun_wod_trail_drone_4-10-23_credit_hugh_kenny_pec_29_1200x-1024x536.webp)
PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Virginia’s Clean Energy Future
On June 10, 2023, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted our annual meeting in Loudoun County and featured a workshop on data centers and Virginia’s clean energy future. The presentation, given by PEC’s Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst Ashish Kapoor and Director of Land Use Julie Bolthouse, is available to view and download below.
![Questions Swirl Around Data Centers – How Many, Where and at What Cost?](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/data_center_ashburn_loudoun_wod_trail_drone_4-10-23_credit_hugh_kenny_pec_34_1200x-1024x536.webp)
Questions Swirl Around Data Centers – How Many, Where and at What Cost?
Although DEQ’s proposed variance for data center diesel generator has been pulled, the underlying issue remains: Is this continued boom in data center development sustainable?
![PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Potential Reliance on Backup Diesel Generators](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/data-center-presentation-title-screen-600x.jpg)
PEC Presentation on Data Centers & Potential Reliance on Backup Diesel Generators
On March 28, 2023, The Piedmont Environmental Council hosted a local information session in Loudoun County about a variance being proposed by The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to allow Loudoun data centers to use their backup diesel generators more frequently during the coming summer.
![Update on DEQ’s air quality variance for data centers](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/commercial-diesel-generator-installation-credit-peo-acwa-flickr-cc-1200x-1024x680.jpg)
Update on DEQ’s air quality variance for data centers
The variance would allow backup diesel generators to run more frequently this coming summer.
![Data Centers, Diesel Generators and Air Quality – PEC Web Map](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/data-centers-web-map-screenshot-750x.jpg)
Data Centers, Diesel Generators and Air Quality – PEC Web Map
PEC requested the air permits for all of the approximately hundred data center facilities covered under the proposed DEQ variance, including the number of commercial generators per facility. We determined that there are 4,632 commercial diesel generators in total and that these generators have a total capacity of 11.1 gigawatts of power. Our web map displays the data centers locations, as well as nearby schools, nursing homes and low income communities.
![Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Air Quality in Jeopardy](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/take-action-banner-deq-data-center-air-quality-1200x-1024x536.jpg)
Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Air Quality in Jeopardy
The VA Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comment on an order that will temporarily allow data centers in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties to operate their generators for longer and more frequent periods of time due to projected grid instability issues during peak summer energy usage.
![Virginia goes all in on data centers: At what cost?](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/data_center_loudoun_credit_Hugh_Kenny-1024x682.png)
Virginia goes all in on data centers: At what cost?
Send a letter in support of SB 1078 and Senate Joint Resolution 240.
![Be there on Nov. 1: “Digital Gateway” Board of Supervisors Public Hearing](https://www.pecva.org/wp-content/uploads/Manassas-cartoon-1024x715.jpg)
Be there on Nov. 1: “Digital Gateway” Board of Supervisors Public Hearing
With recommendation of approval from both the Prince William County staff and Planning Commission, the “PW Digital Gateway” Comprehensive Plan Amendment is set for public hearing by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. This is a critical moment for the County and the entire region.