Amazon Swaps Four Loudoun Data Centers for Homes and Public Facilities

Amazon has scrapped its plan to construct four new data centers on a 122-acre site in Loudoun County, Virginia. The former George Washington University campus, located just outside Washington, D.C., will instead be converted into mixed-use and residential developments. The decision follows sustained pushback from local residents who opposed the industrial project.

Under the new agreement, Amazon will transfer 25 acres of the property to Loudoun County. The land will house a community arts center and a new recreational facility. The company will also contribute $5 million to the county’s housing fund to support the construction of new homes.

Loudoun County is often referred to as Data Center Alley due to its high density of such facilities. Residents have expressed concern over the noise generated by cooling systems and the substantial electricity required to operate them. These factors have driven a shift in the county’s approach to new data center construction in recent months.

Amazon originally filed its proposal for the four facilities in July. In September, Phyllis J. Randall, the chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, met with company officials. Randall suggested that Amazon might find a more suitable use for the land rather than proceeding with the data center plan.

Josh Weissman, Amazon’s vice president for data center development, stated that the company acted quickly to acquire the site when it became available. He acknowledged the county’s pointed concerns about development at that specific location. Weissman noted that while Amazon viewed the legal development potential differently, the company concluded that a shared vision was preferable to costly litigation.

The reversal occurs as national attention turns to the environmental and economic impact of data centers. President Donald Trump recently urged data center builders to pay local communities a dividend amid rising energy prices. He also proposed that these facilities generate their own electricity and sell any surplus power back to the community.

Randall described the outcome as a result of dialogue between the two parties. She stated that the agreement creates new spaces for residents to gather and play. Randall emphasized that the most important aspect of the deal is the provision of more attainable homes for working families in the county.