Good news! Shenandoah County took an important first step in setting guardrails for data center development within our county.
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Shenandoah County Planning Commission members came together to call for a specific ordinance outlining requirements for data centers considering locating in the county.
This is a major shift. For several months, we understood that it was the county’s intention to simply update the county’s industrial zoning ordinance to require a higher set of standards for all large industrial uses, including data centers.
After a discussion on the pros and cons of this strategy, however, commission members decided a specific data center ordinance was the right path. We applaud the commissioners for their decision to require future data center proposals to go through careful deliberation of its merits and be guided by public input.
Ordinance: A Tool to Retain Control
A tailored data center ordinance puts Shenandoah County in the driver’s seat. It allows the county to set the rules and retain total control. By requiring a Special Use Permit, any proposed project must meet the county’s strict standards for noise, power, and water usage. It must also undergo extensive public scrutiny and public hearings. If a proposal cannot meet the standards, the county retains the absolute right to say “no” and reject it.
This Thursday, June 4, 2026, the Shenandoah County Planning Commission will consider the draft data center ordinance. This is definitely a step in the right direction for much-needed oversight of any future data center proposals, but we believe it can be stronger.
Areas for Improvement:
Define strict parameters for the growing trend of onsite natural gas or diesel power generation. The ordinance must establish clear standards for emissions, noise levels, and operations to prevent data centers from running independent, unregulated power plants in our community.
Guarantee Timely Community Engagement: Require applicants to host and document a public informational meeting to engage the neighbors within a strict six-month window prior to formally submitting an application. This ensures the community is informed before plans are locked in, not after.
- Protect local aquifers and private wells: Mandate closed-loop cooling systems and connection to public water supply.
- Enforce Emergency Drought Triggers: Require a comprehensive drought contingency plan to reduce or eliminate data center water usage during declared water shortages.
Mandate Certified E-Waste Recycling: Explicitly require the county’s decommissioning plan to mandate that all removed, upgraded or replaced data center materials be transferred exclusively to certified facilities specializing in recycling, reclaiming, or repurposing electronic waste. This prevents toxic e-waste from entering local landfills during routine tech refreshes or final facility closures.
What You Can Do
Attend the Planning Commission Meeting:
Thursday, June 4, 7pm
Shenandoah County Government Center Board Room
600 N Main St, Woodstock, VA 22664 (directions)