Energy

Va.’s data center boom shows how hard it is for lawmakers to rein in industry

Critics say it has grown rapidly with few, if any, guardrails. 
A data center is under construction in Ashburn in Loudoun County, Virginia, on Sunday, July 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey)

Virginia is illustrating for data center critics in other states how difficult it is to build enough political support to impose restraints on an established industry.

Its northern exurbs outside of Washington, D.C., are home to more than 250 data centers, which handle roughly 70% of global internet traffic, according to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. That constitutes the world’s highest concentration of data centers.

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