10/24/2025
Stafford's Data Center Invasion: 17 Apps Pending, 35M+ Sq Ft of Server Sprawl—What's BOS Hiding?
Stafford peeps, we dug into county records & news—here’s the real deal on those 17 data center apps flooding us (up from 16 in July). We’re talking 100+ buildings from Courthouse Rd to U.S. 17/I-95, sucking millions of gallons/day for cooling, needing 1+ GW power (six 300MW substations), and promising $100M in taxes but risking noise, blackouts, & river views. 4 already approved (7M sq ft, like Stack’s 23-building beast on Eskimo Hill—breaking ground 2025). The rest? Under review or just filed. BOS passed “strictest in VA” rules Oct 21 (750-ft setbacks from homes, 50 dB noise cap, tree buffers, reuse water only after 1M gal/day potable)—but too late for these?
The Big 17 Breakdown (From County Filings):
- Forest Lane (July ‘25): 850 acres near Kings Hwy/Forest Lane. 7.9M sq ft + substation. Traffic mess at Exit 140?
- Sisson South (May ‘25): South of Kings Hwy (Michael Scott Ln to Appleton Hall Dr). Rezone for centers + substations. Wetlands at risk.
- Blaisdell (Dec ‘24-active): Olde Forge Dr by Rappahannock—historic Hunter’s Iron Works (Jefferson-era!). Riverfront homes facing 24/7 hum.
- Accokeek Center: 80 acres btw U.S. 1/I-95, near jail/Ramoth Rd. 520K sq ft, 3 bldgs. Poorer areas hit hardest.
- Austin Ridge: 183 acres Cedar Ln off I-95. 1.6M sq ft data in 2.1M industrial mix. Buc-ee’s backups x10.
- Pemberton Tech (Sep ‘25): 52 acres Centreport Pkwy. 562K sq ft, 3x65ft towers.
- River Creek Cluster (Sep ‘25): Rappahannock front—residents raging vs. substations killing views/pollution.
- The Other 10+:Eskimo expansions, Cranes Corner, more rezonings (ag to heavy industrial). Check the full map/list online!
The Drama: Planning pushed tougher regs July-Aug. Sep 11 rallies by Protect Stafford/SlowDown: “They’re selling our aquifers!” Oct 21 hearing ran til 2:30 AM (100+ speakers)—4-2-1 vote for rules (two no, one abstain—smells like election dodging). Sep 24: Stack’s #3 taxpayer ($2.8M), but BOS says “not just cash.” Oct 9: $2.4M wastewater nod amid boom fears. Old apps grandfathered—new ones need CUPs.
This ain’t progress—it’s a grid-killer for our 7th-fastest growing county. Dry aquifers? Skyrocketing bills? Clogged schools? Hit the Nov BOS meeting or vote ‘em out. Who’s impacted? Drop your story—share if you’re mad!