Virginia’s Loudoun County has approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center applications, effective immediately. The Board of Supervisors voted 7-1 for the pause, with Supervisor Kristen Umstattd voting against and Caleb Kershner abstaining. The motion was introduced by Algonkian District Supervisor Juli E. Briskman.
“This pause is a major step forward. Now we have the breathing room required to complete the critical work of revising our regulations to protect our communities.”
Loudoun County is home to hundreds of data centers, including many in the Ashburn area known as “Data Center Alley.” Officials plan to use the 12-month pause to assess data centers’ impact on local resources and develop longer-term regulations. A permanent ban was considered unworkable under Virginia law. The county had already removed data centers as a by-right zoning option and is considering ending grandfathered by-right status for existing projects.
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