Living in Northern Virginia, where the highest density of data centers in the world are located, we strongly oppose changing policy to allow data centers to run backup diesel generators during planned outage events.  

Contrary to what the data center industry keeps telling us, they are not using the cleaner Tier 4 generators; even the newest are still installing Tier 1 and Tier 2 as DEQ records clearly show. The cumulative, detrimental, effects of thousands of diesel generators running during any outage, is neither regulated nor monitored by the DEQ. Why should Virginia bear the harmful health and environmental effects? Shouldn’t the DEQ be protecting and promoting the health of the people and the environment of the Commonwealth, not kowtowing to a world-wide trillion dollar industry?

Living adjacent to what is now planned to be Fairfax County’s “digital gateway” we are alarmed and disappointed with the direction the DEQ is taking on this matter. Again, we strongly oppose this change in policy.