No one has asked to open a data center in York County yet, but supervisors approved changes to county zoning laws to manage the process, based on the tough lessons learned by Northern Virginia.
Data centers – massive warehouses stacked with computers and network equipment that manage our internet data -- can generate considerable local tax revenue. But as they demand gobs of power and water that can impact local electricity grids and water supply. They generate a constant humming noise that can be problematic for residential neighborhoods.
Northern Virginia is home to 35% of the world’s hyperscale data centers, according to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Several counties there failed to keep zoning laws up to date as centers sprouted next to homes and then expanded, angering nearby homeowners.
“The recommendations from those other counties was: get some ordinances in place. That’s why we’re here,” said District 1 Supervisor Dou…