At their Sept. 16, business meeting, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted 8-0-1 to approve the Data Center Standards and Locations Phase 2 Project Plan, with Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) opposing the motion. The move launches the second phase of a multi-year effort to update how new data centers—and the substations and backup power that serve them—are evaluated and regulated in Loudoun.
“Phase two is anticipated to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026, with a final board action potentially occurring in December 2026. “However, I would like to emphasize that any delay in approving the project plan or the addition of any extra work session may push the timeline into 2027,” Project Manager Abdul Jaffari told the Board.
According to the county’s project description, Phase 2’s focus will be on amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance that address emerging industry needs and site impacts. “For this project, we’re focusing on supporting staff and the board as they evaluate data center applications by addressing compatibility concerns through the special exception process,” Jaffari told supervisors. Staff emphasized they will evaluate whether impacts “are best managed through policy, zoning regulations, or a case by case conditions of approval or a combination of these tools,” and will consider the industry’s evolving operational needs…