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Data centers in Loudoun and Fairfax counties create approximately 74,000 jobs and contribute $9.1 billion to the Virginia economy each year. However, these facilities raise concerns regarding their environmental impact, including substantial water and electricity consumption.

Residents, like Tracy Fowle of Loudoun County, express frustration over ongoing construction, as homeowners' associations cannot halt development, leaving them with limited options for action. The growing energy costs, emphasized under the Trump administration's focus on affordability, complicate the regulatory landscape for state politicians navigating interests from tech giants and local leaders.

Northern Virginia has been a hub for data centers since the 1990s due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., affordable land, tax incentives, and local ordinances. The Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy's Trinity Mills highlighted that personal data is stored in physical locations, specifically in buildings in Ashburn.