Three years ago, we started voicing concerns about a proposed data center development within the legislative boundary of Prince William Forest Park- Potomac Technology Park. We acknowledged that data centers had a role to play in modern society - many of our programs from the history of the Barnes House to protecting Quantico Creek are available online for anyone to see thanks to data centers that have already been built. But we also recognized that they needed to be properly sited with adequate buffers and set-backs. These siting concerns drove our opposition to projects like the Potomac Tech Park and Prince William Digital Gateway.Where data centers are located is still important. But with the rapid increase in projects we are seeing, and this industry’s insatiable demand for power, water and land, we are growing more and more concerned about the cumulative impacts of this industry. Impacts on our electric grid, energy bills, water resources, and climate change goals are all of concern. These impacts are felt not only here in Prince William County, but across the state and the globe.
