The rapid expansion of data centers across Virginia presents complex challenges for local governments. While these facilities can contribute to local tax revenues, they also require substantial infrastructure investments and place heavy demands on energy and water systems. Without careful oversight and cost-sharing mechanisms, localities risk long-term fiscal strain, increased utility rates for residents, and the permanent conversion of agricultural and open lands.
Local governments have an essential role in guiding where and how data centers are developed. Strong, clear zoning ordinances and siting standards can help ensure facilities are located in areas that align with community goals and infrastructure capacity. Thoughtful local planning provides the foundation for balancing development with the protection of natural, historic, and agricultural assets.
Along with local planning, state-level oversight and transparency are needed to manage the broader impacts of this growing industry. Policies that require accountability for energy use, infrastructure costs, and environmental impacts can help ensure that data centers contribute fairly to the communities that host them.
By working together—locally and statewide—we can support innovation while safeguarding the resources and character that define the Shenandoah Valley.
Perspectives on Data Center Development in the Shenandoah Valley
All issues are multi-faceted, so we talked to several experts to gain their perspective on this emerging technology. Click through the posts below to read our interviews with experts on different aspects of data center development.
What’s Inside a Data Center?
Data centers are highly secure, large facilities that store and process the information that powers the internet—from streaming videos to running business software. Even though most people never go inside one, it takes a lot of systems working together to keep them running every minute of every day.
Click here for a simple look at the main parts that make up a data center. Knowing these parts can help local leaders and residents make informed decisions when considering data centers in their community, including what resources and planning are needed to reduce impacts and ensure safe and responsible operation.
County Updates & Perspectives
As data center interest expands across the Shenandoah Valley, county community development staff and planners are on the front lines of managing its pace and impact. We spoke with local officials in Augusta, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham, and Warren counties to learn how they’re responding to this surge—balancing economic opportunity with infrastructure readiness, land use goals, and community priorities. Read more about how localities in the Shenandoah Valley are responding to data center pressures in unique ways here.
