What people living next to data centers think about managing them

Northern Virginia and the Richmond metropolitan area are home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers. A recent survey of 1,004 residents found that they support development restrictions that would make data centers more transparent and accountable to the public. However, they care about certain types of regulations more than others.

Residents prioritize policies addressing visible, immediate, and tangible impacts, such as requiring underground power lines and restricting data centers near homes, schools, and parks. They also favor regular reporting of energy and water usage. Public participation ranks second among the six policy provisions that influence residents' preferences.

Virginia has often allowed developers to build data centers without public review, leading to concerns from residents. For example, a proposed 466,000-square-foot data center in Fairfax County's Bren Mar neighborhood was built without a public hearing or much review in July 2024. Recently, Loudoun County required public hearings before approving new data center proposals, a change from the automatic zoning approval it once used.

The Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration reduced requirements for public hearings on air-pollution permits from data center projects. Respondents were ambivalent about whether data centers should be charged higher electricity rates than other customers, as infrastructure costs can ultimately pass down to other customers. Higher electricity prices near data centers tripled between 2020 and 2025.

To help the public make informed decisions about complex issues, experts from local and state governments may need to clearly communicate the trade-offs involved. Despite the growth of data centers, coexistence of growth and oversight remains possible given the public's support for regulations on data centers.