(Prince William Times $) The Prince William County Historical Commission is sounding the alarm after two historic African American cemeteries in Brentsville were damaged by the construction of a new data center and a related electrical substation.
Data Centers
The Stafford County Utilities Department will provide the Board of Supervisors with an update on the county’s water reuse system project at a special work session on Wednesday, May 15, at 6 p.m. The project is linked to the construction of an Amazon data center on Old Potomac Church Road, near Stafford Hospital, part of the Potomac Church Tech Center zoning amendment.
Amazon Data Services (AWS) agreed to construct a reclaimed water facility at the Aquia Wastewater Treatment Plant. This facility will support the cooling needs of data centers in areas north of Centreport Parkway. AWS has committed to limiting the occupancy of the second building at the data center until the reuse system is operational, with a scheduled delivery date in the second quarter of 2027. The first building will use potable water until the reuse system is complete.
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“My Board colleagues and I unanimously adopted the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, raising the “Data Center Tax” rate from $2.15 to $3.70 (the current maximum allowable threshold) and lowering the real property tax rate from $0.966 to $0.920. This shifts more of the tax burden onto some of the world’s wealthiest corporations while advancing community priorities through investments in key areas such as public safety, social services, sustainability, parks, and multi-modal transportation.
— Prince William County Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye in an email to constituents.
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On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Prince William County held its second of eight planned town hall meetings as part of its strategic planning process for 2025-2029. The event, hosted by Board of County Supervisors Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson aimed to gather public input to shape the county’s future.
The Prince William County Strategic Plan outlines the community’s vision and goals for improving various areas, such as health, safety, economy, and education, through 2024. It is crucial for residents because it shapes the county’s priorities and decisions, impacting everyday life and the local environment.
One of the pivotal outcomes of the session was the passage of a higher $3.70 per $100 $100 of assessed value Computer and Peripheral (data center) tax, which garnered a 7-1 vote in favor. It’s the second hike in as many years for this tax, up from $1.80 in 2022. Supporters have called for the county’s burgeoning data center industry, set to overtake neighboring Loudoun County as the world’s epicenter for server farms that power the internet, to pay more.
Additionally, there was unanimous support, with an 8-0 vote for setting the real estate tax rate at 92 cents per $100 assessed value. This move aims to balance meeting the county’s financial needs and alleviating the tax burden on residents. The decision means that, for the first time in years, residents will see an average decrease in their real estate tax bills of about $240 instead of the typical increase.
Below are options the Board may consider:
For comparison, the tax rate on data centers in Loudoun County is $4.15, and in Fairfax County it’s $4.57.
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“The Prince William Board of County Supervisors this week gave a developer permission to construct taller data centers near Independent Hill than was previously allowed,” Insidenova.com reports.
Go to Prince William board allows developer near landfill to construct taller data centers
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The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will decide on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, whether or not data centers belong near Prince William Forest Park, the largest natural protected area near Washington, D.C. The server farms would be built on the east/north side of Dumfries Road (Route 234), east of its intersection with Independent Hill Drive.
The plan to build a data center campus on the property stirred interest and controversy within the community. If approved, it would be the first major data center project east of Manassas.