Prince William County approves world's largest data center project amid 27-hour debate

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (7News) — After 27 hours, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors approved the digital gateway project. The county is now set to become the largest data center in the world.

Nearly 400 Prince William County residents spoke at the meeting which started Tuesday morning and wrapped up Wednesday afternoon with a 4-3 vote in favor of the project, with 1 vote abstained.

According to the meeting, the vote approved two companies QTS and Compass Data Centers. It will include 37 data centers, taking millions of square feet across more than 2,000 acres of land. Most of it is rural and farmland –-- which the owners agreed to sell to the companies.

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Supporters in favor said the centers would provide revenue for the county and many benefit financially because they are property owners.

“As the land is developed, the data center will create revenue and the value will continue to grow year after year,” said one woman who said she lives off Pageland Road.

Those against the project cite water concerns, noise levels and worry about the east coast electrical grid.

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"I have serious problems with my elected officials using my taxpayer dollars for an unnecessary lawsuit, for a widely unpopular, highly controversial land use deal that only benefits the select few in this county, it is pathetic," said another resident.

Chris Curtis, Compass Datacenters SVP of Development and Acquisitions released the following statement on the vote in Prince William County approving Compass Datacenters’ rezoning application:

Compass Datacenters is grateful that the Board of County Supervisors has approved its rezoning application, affirming its alignment with the County’s 2022 plan for data center development.

We thank the Board of County Supervisors, hundreds of project supporters and community members for their thoughtful feedback at this meeting and over the past year. We are committed to being a good neighbor in Prince William County and continuing a dialogue with all of our stakeholders as this project moves forward.