Loudoun Supervisors Move to Block 10 Million Sq Ft of By-Right Data Centers
Updated
Updated · Loudoun Now · Aug 19
Loudoun Supervisors Move to Block 10 Million Sq Ft of By-Right Data Centers
1 articles · Updated · Loudoun Now · Aug 19
Summary
Briskman and TeKrony plan to introduce a Sept. 1 measure to make Loudoun’s data-center grandfathering resolution expire immediately, potentially forcing about 10 million square feet of pending projects into board review.
The target is a March 2025 policy that let applications filed by Feb. 12, 2025 keep staff-level approval through March 2028 even after the county tightened zoning rules for new data centers.
Resident backlash has intensified over noise, diesel and turbine emissions, water use, property values, viewsheds and new transmission lines crossing green space and private land.
Loudoun already hosts about 53 million square feet of data centers in more than 200 buildings and expects $1.3 billion in fiscal 2027 revenue from the industry, underscoring the stakes of any rollback.
The exact number of projects affected remains unclear; county staff has identified five additional grandfathered applications since 2025, and the supervisors say they are still gauging support on the board.