“The Fredericksburg region will be the focus of Amazon Web Services’ multi-billion-dollar investment in data centers announced Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin Wednesday. The move represents the largest single economic development investment in the state’s history, according to Governor Glenn Youngkin,” reports the Fredericksburg Free Press.
DeShundra Jefferson, chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, answered resident and media questions about housing, data centers, and the future of the county at the Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, town hall event.
Hosted by InsideNoVa, Jefferson took questions from members of the media and residents during the nearly hourlong virtual town hall event. Jefferson was sworn in as chair in January.
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Insidenova.com: "Microsoft Corp. recently acquired vacant property zoned for data centers in Gainesville for more than $465 million, according to a Washington Business Journal report."
"The publication reports the property comprises about 124 acres across two parcels at 13490 University Blvd. and 5941 Wellington Road, directly south of Conway Robinson State Forest and Manassas National Battlefield Park, near where the contentious PW Digital Gateway data center corridor is primed for development."
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“My district is hurting. This issue has torn apart our community,” Thomas lamented before the committee’s vote.
Kathy Kulick of the HOA Roundtable highlighted the contentious nature of the issue and emphasized the potential conflict between economic interests and environmental concerns. Kulick pointed out the influence and intimidation of the data center industry on localities, highlighting the need for state-level legislation to guide land use change requests.
“Localities are being overwhelmed by the enormous financial influence and intimidation of the industry,” Kulick told Potomac Local.
Chap Petersen, representing residents in a lawsuit against the Prince William Board of County Supervisors over the PW Digital Gateway development, echoed concerns about the data center industry’s overwhelming impact on rural areas. Petersen criticized the General Assembly’s inaction, emphasizing the environmental cost and the need for immediate legislative measures.
“The data center industry is overwhelming the Rural Crescent in Virginia. The environmental cost will be incalculable,” said the lawyer and former Democratic State Senator from Fairfax. “The General Assembly has done nothing for years. To defer the issue for ‘more study’ is a joke.”
The ongoing legal battle over the PW Digital Gateway development, approved by Prince William supervisors in December 2023, underscores the high stakes. Residents, supported by organizations like the American Battlefield Trust, argue that approving massive data centers near historical sites like the Manassas Battlefield National Park would irreversibly alter the region’s character and damage its historical significance, Insidenova.com reports.
The rezoning vote in December cleared the way for two companies, QTS and Compass Datacenters, Inc., to build the nearly 100-foot tall data center buildings on what has been billed as the world’s most significant data center complex, on nearly 900 acres next to the battlefield, a tourist magnet, and the site of the first major Civil War battle in 1861.
As the Manassas City Council is fresh off its retreat to Airlie Hotel and Conference Center in Warrenton and set to begin budget talks, Manassas City Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis emphasized distinguishing between wants and needs when making decisions that impact the community. She stressed that council members serve as stewards of taxpayer money and must prioritize choices for the betterment of the community.
“When it comes to the budget, we have to look at wants and needs,” Coates Ellis stated. “We’re going to go through the budget highlights from last year to see where we are and where we’re going. There will be some wants and needs brought up from the departments.”
While the city’s tax rate dropped in 2023, Coates Ellis highlighted that the assessments were “just ridiculous,” resulting in an average residential tax increase of $181 and a 3.7% uptick. Businesses experienced a similar trend, with non-residential taxes increasing by 4.6%.
Coates Ellis expressed concern about the impact on residents, noting that what matters most to them is “what comes out of people’s pockets.” She addressed the familiar argument about having a low tax rate, emphasizing that the amount people pay genuinely matters.
“We always have to remind ourselves this is about other people’s money. We have to be financially responsible,” she explained. Starting with essential services like utilities, Coates Ellis expressed her commitment to ensuring access to clean water, electricity, and power, particularly in light of recent challenges and changes in leadership.
Electricity issues
Power outages plagued city residents in 2023, particularly those from the electrical substation at Battery Heights on Liberia Avenue going offline. Coates Ellis updated the situation, stating, “We ended up buying [a transformer] from Pennsylvania…I’m on the utilities commission…we are back to pre-battery height outages,” said Coates Ellis.
Coates Ellis expressed confidence when asked about the state of utilities, especially electricity, highlighting the city’s focus on addressing the issue. “I do feel good now because I think it has been brought out in the forefront that we have to be on top of it,” she affirmed.
Coates Ellis clarified that while the city does not generate its power. However, it has generators that reduce the overall load during peak demand days, with electricity purchased from Dominion Virginia Power. She emphasized her confidence in the system, particularly with the impending data centers that are soon to come online and will use their own power systems.
Coates Ellis stressed the importance of a balanced approach by expressing concern about the national push towards electric everything, including electric vehicles and eliminating fossil fuels. “You can’t just focus totally on electric,” she stated. “Electric needs fossil fuels to power.”
The city’s sustainability plan involves a gradual phase-in of electric vehicles and solar energy. Coates Ellis mentioned a survey on the city’s Facebook page seeking residents’ opinions on the plan, emphasizing the importance of bringing awareness without making it mandatory. She also touched on the potential challenges of EV charging stations, predicting they may cost more than traditional fueling due to infrastructure requirements.
City manager search and morale amidst leadership changes
City Manager Patrick Pate, who served the city for 10 years, resigned in 2023, despite receiving a 3% pay raise earlier in the year, bringing his ending annual salary to $248,207. Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger praised Pate’s contributions to the city at the time of his departure, acknowledging the growth and positive changes during his tenure.
Pate’s was the latest in a series of departures from the city government last year, including Utilities Director Tony Dawood, who left amid ongoing electricity issues. Coates Ellis acknowledged the challenges faced by the city and expressed her commitment to understanding the background of these resignations.
The City Council appointed Police Chief Douglass Keen as interim city manager until it finds a permanent replacement. Coates Ellis acknowledged the challenges, stating, “They’re a lot better now with Chief Keen on board as the interim. That was the best thing that we could have, in my opinion, to get through a very unstable time,” said Coates Ellis.
Coates Ellis said that over 50% of employees participated in the survey, which is a high response rate. The results indicated a 90% to 94% satisfaction rate, with no apparent decrease compared to the surveys conducted in 2018 and 2020.
According to the councilwoman, the survey identified key areas for improvement, including communication, creating clear paths for career advancement, ensuring recognition for high-performing employees, and keeping technology up to date.
Coates Ellis linked the positive shift in employee satisfaction to Keen’s presence as interim city manager. “He was already like an assistant city manager…that brought more confidence to the staff when he was brought on board. I think he’s doing a great job,” she stated.
The City Council initiated a nationwide search for a new city manager.
Editor’s Note: Theresa Coates Ellis is the only one of the seven sitting Manassas City Council members who agreed to an interview for this story.
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“As a growing number of major data center projects are delayed or derailed by opposition from local residents and elected officials, developers are realizing they need to play politics, and they are beginning to pour more resources into efforts to win hearts and minds,” reports Dan Rabb at BisNow.
In an effort to advocate for policies safeguarding national parks, clean water, and combating climate change, the Virginia Conservation Network, in collaboration with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), is gearing up for the annual 2024 Conservation Lobby Day on Wednesday, January 31.
This significant event aims to unite environmental supporters from across the state, addressing the constant threats faced by Virginia’s national parks, particularly from the proliferation of data centers. The General Assembly is set to consider various bills in 2024 to tackle the impacts of data centers, including rising electricity costs and environmental pressures.
Virginia is home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers, with Northern Virginia hosting over 300 of them. Eastern Loudoun County, known as Data Center Alley, covers approximately 573 acres, while Prince William County is emerging as a hotspot with the recent approval of the PW Digital Gateway campus, featuring 27 centers on 970 acres next to Manassas National Battlefield.
The agenda for the Virginia Conservation Lobby Day is as follows:
– 7:30 am Arrive in Richmond
– 7:45 – 8:30 am Gather at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (815 E Grace St, Richmond, VA 23219) for coffee, light breakfast, and remarks from legislators
– 8:30 – 11:30 am: Lobby your Delegate and Senator with fellow conservation advocates
– 11:30 – 1:30 pm: Lunch at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with remarks from agency staff members
– 1:30 – 4:00 pm: Lobby key committee members on data center reform
– 4:00 pm: Return home
Environmental enthusiasts are encouraged to RSVP with NPCA to secure their spot at the event. Additionally, a bus departing from Haymarket will facilitate transportation to Richmond.
The Virginia Mercury reports, “As data centers continue to proliferate across Virginia, the General Assembly this winter is poised to take up a host of bills intended to address their impacts, including increased electricity costs and environmental pressures.”
This Conservation Lobby Day allows citizens to engage with legislators, advocate for environmental action, and specifically address the challenges data centers pose. With Virginia being a global hub for data centers, the outcomes of these lobbying efforts could have far-reaching implications for the state’s environmental landscape.
For more information and to RSVP, visit the NPCA website or contact Karen Sheehan with the Coalition to Protect Prince William at [email protected].
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Delegate Ian Lovejoy (R-22, Bristow) updated his legislative priorities at the end of the first week of the 2024 Virginia General Assembly.
Lovejoy emphasized his focus on two key issues: limiting the siting of data centers near certain areas and addressing potential conflicts of interest among local elected officials involved in land use proceedings.
Siting of Data Centers in Residential Areas:
Lovejoy introduced an amendment to the Code of Virginia, specifically adding a new section to address the siting of data centers. According to the proposed amendment:
– Any local government land use application required to build a data center must be approved only for areas one-quarter mile or more from federal, state, or local parks, schools, and property zoned or used for residential purposes.
The amendment came after the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in 2023 approved a data center complex on 990 acres next to Manassas Battlefield National Park and another next to a densely populated neighborhood at Linton Hall and Devlin roads in Bristow.
Disclosures in Land Use Proceedings:
Lovejoy also proposed amendments focusing on disclosures in land use proceedings.
– Members of the board of supervisors, planning commission, and board of zoning appeals involved in land use proceedings must fully disclose any business or financial relationships with the applicant or title owner of the land in question.
– A disclosure includes relationships within the 12 months before the hearing, and any member with a business or financial interest or a specific relationship shall be ineligible to vote or participate in such cases.
– Penalties, as a Class 1 misdemeanor, are outlined for individuals knowingly and willfully violating these disclosure provisions.is the most severe class of misdemeanor offenses and may include up to 12 months in jail and up to a $2,500 fine.
The proposed amendments aim to enhance transparency in land use proceedings by requiring elected officials to disclose relevant relationships, thereby minimizing potential conflicts of interest.
Lovejoy is serving his first term as a House of Delegates member. He previously served on the Manassas City Council.
The 2024 General Assembly session ends on March 10, 2024.
DeShundra Jefferson, chair at-large of Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors, delivered her first remarks Tuesday, January 9, on the State of the County. She was elected in 2023 and assumed office on January 1.
Jefferson started her remarks by sharing her hopes for the future as she began her tenure as chair. She said she was hopeful for the future of the Board, community, and county.
