Northern Virginia is home to the largest concentration of data centers in the world — bigger than the next five U.S. markets combined. In Loudoun County, these massive gray buildings have fueled a billion-dollar local tax windfall, lowering property tax rates year after year. But the boom comes with a cost. Data centers are moving closer to backyards — casting shadows on homes, humming through holidays, and draining nearly a third of Virginia’s electricity supply. Communities are divided: some see opportunity, others see an industrial invasion. Now, Maryland counties are watching closely. From Prince George’s County’s task force hearings to rural Frederick protests, leaders are weighing whether they can replicate Virginia’s success — and residents are pushing back on where these facilities should go. In this episode of 4 More Context, News4 I-Team’s Ted Oberg breaks it all down with News4 reporters Drew Wilder and Darcy Spencer, and visits an Ashburn, VA neighborhood where a new data center is under construction.
