Hundreds are back on the digital battleground in Prince William County as neighbors are drawing lines in the sand on the newest proposed largest data center development in the world.
In rural, western Prince William just south of Dulles airport, the data center proposal calls for a nearly 2,000 acre campus. That’s larger than the campus of the University of Maryland. You could fit 22 Tysons Corner Center malls.
Prince Williams’ Board of Supervisors is considering the first stage of approval.
“Listen to the citizens here today and reject this and every other proposed data center,” said a demonstrator Tuesday at a protest ahead of a board of supervisors meeting. “We are watching.”
But in the rural area in question, there’s overwhelming support. Data center developers have been offering upwards of a few million dollars per acre in some areas of Northern Virginia.
Josiah Hunter said he and his neighbors are under contract, and while the offer is much higher than market value, it’s nowhere near that $1 million figure.
“Why data centers? Frankly, data centers offer the most money right now,” Hunter said. “And our proximity to Dulles, which trafficks 70% of the internet in the world, makes us the perfect location. That’s where it should be.”
Federal, state and local politicians joined in the opposition to the project Tuesday with State Sen. Danica Roem calling for a statewide moratorium on data centers.
One demonstrator described what’s happening next to his home.
“Six data center buildings, two substations within 150 feet,” he said.
And then another demonstrator said there’s supporting infrastructure running through her neighborhood.
“Our community is facing multiple high voltage transmission lines, the Nokesville to Bristow, the Wishing Star […] and now a new one just announced last week,” she said.
Prince William County staff is recommending the board of supervisors not advance the project, but this is just the beginning of what’s expected to be a years-long battle between neighbors, with big tech hoping to develop farmland into AI infrastructure.
from Local – NBC4 Washington https://ift.tt/NY7ZQn6
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