In Sterling, Virginia, Greg Pirio says life changed after a data center opened about 300 meters from his home in Loudoun County. What had once been a quiet, wooded neighborhood filled with birds and wildlife is now marked by nonstop noise from gas turbines and backup diesel generators, along with complaints about headaches, sleep loss and air quality concerns.
Pirio, 76, said the noise became constant, and he has had to leave home when diesel generators are running because it becomes difficult to breathe. He also said his property value was affected, pointing to a neighboring home that sat on the market for nine months before selling for $80,000 less than expected.
Loudoun County, just outside Washington, has become a major hub for data centers, which support much of the internet traffic that moves through Northern Virginia’s so-called Data Center Alley. The industry has brought enormous tax revenue to the county, but residents in Sterling and nearby communities are increasingly asking whether the tradeoff is worth it.
The article highlights a growing tension familiar to many American suburbs: a local government benefits from a booming industry, while nearby residents worry about noise, health and quality-of-life impacts. In Loudoun County, that debate is now centered on whether the county’s data center growth has gone too far.
