On June 23, Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors will have the opportunity to establish local data center oversight.
We applaud the Planning Commission members for their recent recommendation for a standalone ordinance, and we now urge the Board of Supervisors to take swift action and adopt the proposed Data Center Ordinance on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
Is the ordinance perfect? Not yet. However, waiting for a flawless draft should not stall the immediate protection this proposed version offers. Because county staff has confirmed the code can be amended at any subsequent meeting, our path forward is clear: adopt the current ordinance to lock in solid baseline protections, and then immediately begin to collaborate on refinements.
A Tool to Retain Control. A tailored ordinance gives Shenandoah County the ability to evaluate the details of any future data center proposal. By requiring a Special Use Permit (SUP) for all data center proposals, the public will have the chance to weigh in and developers will be required to meet strict standards for noise, power, and water usage. If a proposal fails to meet these standards, the ordinance gives the county the absolute right to say “no” and reject it.
Priority Improvements for Immediate Post-Adoption Review. While we support passing the current framework now, we look forward to working with staff and leadership to integrate the following protections in the next wave of updates:
Narrow the “Data Center” Definition to explicitly exclude long-term power generation:
- Restrict the Core Definition: Define a “Data Center” strictly as the primary facility and its immediate, on-site infrastructure (e.g., backup power generators).
- Separate Energy Facility Reviews: Utility substations and independent, long-term power generation facilities should be explicitly excluded from the data center definition. They should require a separate review, public hearing and approval process.
- Clarify Terminology: Replace vague references to “power generation” with the precise term “backup power generation” across all code sections to close loopholes for primary power plants.
What You Can Do
Let Supervisors know you want them to vote to approve the Data Center Ordinance now with the promise to come back and work on the next wave of improvements.
Attend the Board of Supervisors Meeting*
Tuesday, June 23, 7pm
Shenandoah County Government Center Board Room
600 N Main St, Woodstock, VA 22664 (directions)
*⚠️ Important Note for Those Attending: You cannot make a public comment on the ordinance at this meeting!
Please note that Tuesday’s Public Comment session is strictly reserved for topics that do not have their own dedicated public hearings. Because the Data Center Ordinance had already its public hearing on June 4, comments regarding the data center cannot be accepted during this meeting.
To ensure your perspective is considered, please email written comments directly to the Board members before Tuesday.
Strengthen Water Conservation & Drought Management: Protect local aquifers, municipal capacity, and private residential wells from excessive industrial drawdown.
- Mandate Efficiency Standards: Require data centers to connect to the public water/sewer systems and mandate the most water-efficient technology to minimize reliance on potable water.
- Require Capacity Verification: Applicants must provide a formal statement from the utility confirming that existing capacity can reliably support the project’s peak water demand without impacting current users or requiring taxpayer funded infrastructure upgrades. Applicants must also demonstrate that wastewater discharges will not harm treatment facilities or groundwater.
- Regulate System Maintenance: Limit high-volume cooling system maintenance (such as system flushes and refills) to specific, pre-approved timeframes.
- Enforce Drought Contingency Plans: Require a binding mitigation plan that mandates reduced or eliminated water usage during declared regional water shortages.
Incorporate Community and Environmental Protections:
- Mandatory Pre-Application Community Engagement: Require applicants to host and document a public informational meeting for neighboring residents within six-months prior to submitting a formal application, ensuring community feedback is gathered before site plans are finalized.
- Certified E-Waste Recycling Mandate: Update county’s ordinance “Decommissioning” section to legally require that all replaced, upgraded, or decommissioned electronic components be disposed of exclusively through certified e-waste recycling facilities, keeping hazardous materials out of local landfills.
I hope Shenandoah County residents will join me to encourage the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors to secure the proposed Data Center Ordinance on June 23, 2026, with a shared commitment to return to the table and make the ordinance even stronger to protect local water quality and supply and neighboring communities.
Banner photo from Boston Public Library.