Loudoun County weighs data center moratorium, rejects campus

Loudoun County, described in the source article as the data center capital of the world, is moving on two fronts as officials revisit the pace of development: county supervisors are considering a moratorium on new data center applications, and the planning commission has rejected a proposed 3.25 million sq ft campus.

At a county board of supervisors meeting on Wednesday, July 22, a motion proposed by Supervisor Juli E. Briskman passed in a 6-1 vote and could lead to a pause on new data center applications. The motion directs county staff to research the legality of a moratorium and to bring forward an item establishing a pause at an upcoming board of supervisors meeting on September 15.

"Loudoun became the data center capital of the world in large part because data center development occurred with little oversight and before the full impacts were studied or understood", said Briskman.

"This pause would offer the County an opportunity to conduct its due diligence and establish appropriate policies, regulations, and standards so that we can better protect our communities and natural resources."

The only supervisor to oppose the vote said that "I cannot imagine we would not be sued if this were passed in September."

Planning commission turns down Spring Valley proposal

Separately, the county’s planning commission on Thursday 23 July rejected an application for the Spring Valley Technology Park, a proposed 3.25 million sq ft (301,935 sqm) data center development.

The project would have required rezoning around 325 acres of land at the east side of Evergreen Mills Road, south of Reservoir Road, west of Beaverdam Drive, and north of Ryan Road. Plans called for 12 data center buildings, three utility substations, and "utility-scale energy storage use."

The application was submitted by New York-based data center developer Active Infrastructure, which has been eyeing the project since October 2024.

Active Infrastructure was founded by Jeffrey Zygler, previously a partner at real estate investment and management company Dermody Properties and president of development at KTR Capital Partners.

The planning commission’s decision followed concerns about data center expansion in the county, according to the source article, as Loudoun officials weigh whether to temporarily halt new applications while staff examines how such a moratorium could be put in place.

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