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Residents in Virginia push back on nearby gas-powered data centre

A local resident said concerns grew after eight gas turbines were added while the site waited years for grid connection, bringing noise, occasional smoke and bright nighttime lights.

Reported · Written up by our desk · North America

According to the South China Morning Post, residents in Sterling, Virginia have complained about a nearby data centre that has become a persistent source of noise, light and pollution since it began operating.

The outlet reports that resident Lindsay Shaw described constant hum from the facility, security lights that she says shine through her window at night, and impacts she links to the site’s operations, including gas turbine noise and diesel fumes.

SCMP Economy writes that Shaw and her husband initially did not oppose the project after learning it supported cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence, but concerns emerged after approval when eight gas turbines were added to power the facility while it waited for electrical grid connection, a process that can take years.

The article says the constant operating noise, occasional smoke and nightly lights arrived once the data centre was up and running, and it notes Shaw rejected the idea that China or other foreign actors were driving the issue.

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