Loudoun board urged to pause data center approvals

The Piedmont Environmental Council is urging Loudoun County residents to attend the Nov. 17 Board of Supervisors meeting and email supervisors ahead of a vote on pausing board approvals of data center applications while the county strengthens its standards.

• The requested pause would stop board approvals of data centers until stronger standards are in place; public input starts at 6 p.m. at the Loudoun County Government Center, Board Room, 1 Harrison St. SE, Leesburg.
• The article says the current draft standards were written for the industry and would not regulate low-frequency noise, increase setbacks, or stop fossil fuel onsite power such as the Vantage VA2 gas turbines in Sterling; the proposed pause would last up to 12 months and also apply to substations serving data centers.
• It also references the broader Pause to Protect campaign calling for a statewide pause on new data center construction in Virginia, and a separate federal ask to oppose the Bipartisan American Affordability & Jobs Act.