Virginia county reins in data center expansion after backlash

Loudoun County, Virginia -- home to more than 250 data centers -- changed its zoning rules so new data center projects must go through a public approval process, ending 25 years of largely automatic approvals. The county had previously treated data centers as ordinary office parks under its zoning code.

Why it matters: Loudoun is one of the largest data center hubs in the world, so a shift here could set a precedent other counties follow amid growing local opposition to AI infrastructure buildout. It signals that community pushback over power, water, and land use is starting to translate into real regulatory friction for the AI buildout, not just complaints.