For more than a year, residents living next to the Vantage Data Centers facility have endured what they describe as a constant, high-pitched whining or ringing sound coming from the site’s massive backup generators – the facility’s only source of electricity.
Unlike most data centers connected to the power grid, this facility runs entirely on its own on-site power plant. What residents were told would be temporary generator testing has become permanent operation.
“They’re Just Never Turned Off”
Neighbor Hari Doue told News Nation that the community was initially assured the generators were only being tested for emergencies.
“We were told in the beginning that they test the generators to make sure they’re working in case of an emergency. And then as the year and the months have gone on, they’re just never turned off,” Doue said.
Another neighbor, Greg Pirio, has reached out to attorneys over the issue. He described the impact bluntly:
“You just hear this noise, it’s just like, you just want to curse, you know, it’s that bad.”
Some residents have taken drastic steps to cope. One placed a mattress against their window to muffle the sound. Another installed plexiglass and began monitoring decibel levels with a sound meter. Concerns center on sleep disruption, stress, and falling property values.
Vantage Data Centers officials told NewsNation they continue to monitor noise levels and do not believe the sound exceeds Loudoun County’s limits – which is 55 decibels in Residential and rural areas and 60 decibels in Mixed-use residential areas. Exceptions include generators operating during emergencies, at utility request, or during testing.
Virginia: America’s Data Center Capital
Virginia has the largest concentration of data centers in the United States – 287 operational and 398 prospective, according to Pew Research. Loudoun County has become ground zero for this boom, often called “Data Center Alley.”
The economic upside is significant. Data centers generate almost half of Loudoun County’s property tax revenues, funding schools and public services while helping keep residential tax rates lower.
However, the facilities consumed approximately 26% of Virginia’s total electricity in 2023, contributing to higher energy costs for all residents.
they deserve it for the idiots they elect! so stop yer whining!
China is working very hard to create propaganda to make Americans reject data centers so they can get the lead in the Ai race. There is so much false information going around about massive water use. Data centers do not need a continuous supply of water. Their cooling systems are closed loop so once you fill it with water you won’t need to keep refilling it unless there was a leak. People saying the water that is used is toxic but its just cooling completers and again its a closed loop. I am not saying they are perfect and everything reported is wrong but pay close attention because China is working hard to turn us against these data centers.
No the joke is on you retard slaves who think you are being told the truth when a politician speaks. You all deserve what you get just for that fact alone! Oh they said it would be temporary, then become spermanant, where have you retard monkeys heard that before? Everywhere for everything! And yet you are too goddamn stupid to see anything would be different? Justb like they tell you how you won’t be tracked with all of the cameras and boom, now you are tracked. But But they said they wouldn’t spy on us. Shut the hell up rerated slaves.
At this point you morons get what you deserve! And the joke is still on you because now that thing is permanent and will never go anywhere. Good luck selling your house to. You bunch of uneducate retarded dirt monkeys.