Know the Facts
about Data
Large data centers promise economic benefits, but every Virginia county that said yes is now living with consequences nobody warned them about. Frederick County is at a crossroads and we must choose our future wisely.
—neighbors have signed so far
The Amendment Reaches
the Planning Commission
Three data center items are on the agenda tonight: the amendment removing data centers (9.C), a second amendment deleting the TM zoning district entirely (9.D), and the Winchester Gateway conditional use permit (9.B). All three are advertised public hearings, which makes this the first stage where residents can speak about the ordinance itself. The Commission's recommendation is advisory, but it influences how the Board votes on September 23.
Agenda Items to Know
01Item 9.C: Removing data centers from the ordinance
The amendment deletes the data center definition (§165-1105.05), the operating standards (§165-705.01), and the use-matrix row (§165-603.02). The County Attorney's August 31 memo argues that a use which is not listed is thereby prohibited. The draft in the Commission's own packet is dated August 12 and contains no recitals at all, and the county's outside counsel drafted a sentence that is not included three weeks ago. We answer the memo point by point.02Item 9.D: Deleting the TM zoning district
A separate amendment removes the Technology-Manufacturing Park district outright, along with its references across Parts 306, 401, 403, 407, 603, 704, 705, 706, 801, 802, 804, 807, 809 and 810. TM is the only district where data centers are permitted by right today, so this item matters as much as 9.C.03Item 9.B: Winchester Gateway CUP #03-26
A data center on ±71.85 acres of M1 land at Apple Valley Road and Middle Road, bounded by Route 37 (PIN 63-A-80I, Back Creek District). The Commission is legally obliged to decide it under the ordinance as it stands today, not as amended. A Phase I archaeological survey is in the packet.04How to Be Heard
Item 8 is Citizen Comments, for anything not on the agenda; each public hearing takes its own comment. Speakers get three minutes and should give their name and district. If you cannot attend, written comment to the Board is still part of the record.
Removing Data Centers From the Ordinance
Is Not the Same as Banning Them
On July 8 the Board of Supervisors directed staff to draft a resolution removing data centers as an allowed use from every County zoning district, and on August 12 the Board passed that resolution unanimously and sent the amendment on for further study. Yet the draft deletes three sections without ever stating, in plain language, that data centers are not allowed here. Under §165-602.01, a use that is deleted becomes unlisted rather than prohibited, and an unlisted use is decided by the Zoning Administrator, without a public hearing.
Where It Stands
Where the Proposals Stand
Virginia Technology Park
- May 5Planning Commission work session
- Jun 3Planning Commission voted 10-0 to recommend denial. Commissioners cited lack of detail and enforceable proffers.
- Jun 2026Equus pulled the application from the July 8 Board of Supervisors agenda. BOS hearing postponed indefinitely.
Winchester Gateway LLC
- Apr 17HRAB voted 7-1 to recommend denial, citing battlefield visibility, unresolved water disposal, and incomplete archaeology.
- Jun 2026Applicant withdrew from the July 1 Planning Commission hearing after concerns raised at a work session. Issues: power infrastructure, building height, screening, and low-frequency noise.
- Sept 2Public hearing, CUP #03-26. Back on the agenda as item 9.B, with a Phase I archaeological survey now filed. The Commission must decide it under the ordinance as written today.
Three New High-Voltage Lines
Through Frederick County
Three separate transmission projects are being routed through Frederick County to carry power from West Virginia to Loudoun County's data centers. Most of the power does not stay here and Frederick County absorbs the cleared land and lost views for power that serves another county's tax base.
At a Glance
Show Up.
Be Counted.
We have seen the impact of our unified voice. The pressure is working. Keep it up.
Submit written comment to the county.
Both county-hosted forums have now been held (Feb. 24 and May 7) and the Board has announced their intent to remove data centers. Help them keep their word. Written comments submitted to the Board of Supervisors remain part of the official public record. Use the tool below to find your representative and contact them directly.Attend the next public meeting.
The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the amendment. Attend in person or submit written comment. The Board cannot ignore a large turnout of residents who show up to speak.Contact your supervisor directly.
Use the tool to find your Board representative. Our county officials are listening. Keep the pressure on.Bring a neighbor.
Invite someone from your road, your church, your feed store, your HOA. Most residents still don't know what's happening. Higher turnout sends an unmistakable signal.
Contact Your Board Supervisor
Sign the Petition.
Go on Record.
Showing up is powerful. Adding your name to the official petition makes your opposition part of the permanent public record.
Frederick County residents have signed.
Every signature is presented to the Board.
Why signing matters
- Your name and district become part of the official public record. The Board cannot ignore it.
- A petition with hundreds of signatures from across all six districts demonstrates countywide opposition, not just one neighborhood.
- If the Board delays a decision, the petition keeps pressure on between meetings.
- Signatures can be printed and delivered directly to the Board at public meetings.
- Takes less than 60 seconds to sign.
Media Resources
Covering data centers in Frederick County? Everything on this site is sourced and available for reference. Contact us for comment, data, or interviews with local residents.
Key Facts for Coverage
- Two data center proposals were rejected by the Board 5-1 in June 2025: a 644-acre campus south of Stephens City (Tract Capital) and a 105-acre site south of Winchester.
- Frederick County sits almost entirely on karst terrain, a geological formation that makes groundwater uniquely vulnerable to contamination from industrial activity.
- The county is served by two member-owned electric cooperatives: REC and SVEC. REC projects 17 GW of data center demand by 2040, 18× its current peak load.
- Two county-hosted data center information forums have been held: Feb. 24 at Sherando High School (~250–300 residents, vocal opposition) and May 7, 2026 at James Wood High School (originally postponed after backlash on the format).
- All statistics on this site are sourced to primary documents: JLARC, Virginia Energy, USGS, Consumer Federation of America, NPR, and local Virginia press.
Contact
For press inquiries, interview requests, or comment, reach out directly. We can also connect journalists with local residents, farmers, and community members willing to speak on the record.
info@protectfrederick.orgThis site is an independent community effort by Frederick County residents. It is not affiliated with any political party or outside organization.
Spread the Word
Across the Valley
Share this page so neighbors stay informed as the Board of Supervisors continues to weigh these proposals.