Loudoun County, Virginia, has the highest concentration of fiber communications lines in the United States, maybe the world, housed in some 26 million square feet of data centers—and growing. The 522-square-mile county’s massive data centers keep the continent’s communications systems—internet, email, cell phone, landline, you name it—flying smoothly through the planet’s ether.
But when is enough, and when is it too much? Do data centers make good neighbors? How are local governments reacting to increased data center density? What are the benefits? Where does the power come from required to fuel those data centers?
The Regional Elected Leaders Initiative (RELI) at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University will present a webinar on Friday, October 25, from noon to 1:15 p.m., to address issues surrounding data centers in Northern Virginia. The webinar, called “Data Centers in NOVA,” is free and open to the public. Register at this page for details.
Panelists include:
- Ivy Main, renewable energy chair of the Virginia Sierra Club
- John Larson, director of public policy and economic development for Dominion Energy
- Josh Levi, president of the Data Center Coalition
- Mike Turner, Ashburn District Supervisor
“We will discuss the micro and macro issues that converge around data centers,” said facilitator Jay Fisette, codirector of the RELI and a former Arlington County, Virginia, board chair. “We will listen to a diverse expert panel and learn about the issues, obstacles, and opportunities facing local and state leaders in Northern Virginia—the data center capital of the world.”