QTS Data Centers and Compass Datacenters are not experiencing a PR problem, they are experiencing a crisis of common decency.
The data center industry, as a whole, can no longer continue their “business as usual” model.
The Digital Gateway project has awakened The People, and as the old classic rock tune goes: “We ain’t gonna take it anymore.”
Prince William County residents: We must make our voices clear, we reject this industrial “vision” for our communities.
Data Centers take too much ….
Power
Water
Land
PWCA has mapped out all the details for signing up to speak and participating at the public hearing at the Planning Commission on this Wednesday, Nov. 8:
From: Prince William Conservation Alliance <alliance@pwconserve.org>
Subject: ACTION ALERT – Public Hearing re PWDG Nov 8th
What you need to know to prepare for the public hearing on the Prince William Digital Gateway:
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Over 2 years ago PWCA with partner organizations hosted a press conference outlining why we were concerned about the Prince William Digital Gateway proposal. If approved this would be the largest Data Center Campus in the world sprawled on rural land, between Manassas Battlefield National Park and Conway Robinson State Forest.
On Wednesday, November 8th, we have an opportunity to share our concerns during the Planning Commission’s public hearing. Nothing about this proposal is inevitable.
Planning Commission Public Hearing – Prince William Digital Gateway
Wednesday, Nov 8th | 2pm
JAMES J. MCCOART ADMINISTRATION BUILDING – BOARD CHAMBERS
1 COUNTY COMPLEX COURT, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22192 (map)
Share your views in person, sign up to speak virtually, or email the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission is scheduled to review three rezoning applications that comprise the PW Digital Gateway: North (QTS), South (QTS), and Compass.
All three hearings will be opened simultaneously, which means that the public will have 9 minutes to share their views (15 min if you represent an organization) on all three proposals.
In preparation for these public hearings, we’re working with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) who is hosting a series of prep sessions where you’ll learn what to expect that day, how to sign-up to speak, how we’ll keep you informed. For anyone wanting to speak, but feeling uncertain how to do so or how to express their concerns, these prep sessions are designed for you.
Prep Session Number 1 – Sunday, November 5, 5-6 pm
Register here
Prep Session Number 2 – Monday, November 6, 12-1 pm
Register here
Stay Connected!
NPCA will also keep you informed the day of via WhatsApp. If you would like to to receive these notifications, here’s how it works:
You’ll scan the QR code, or go to this link https://parkb.it/maro_whatsapp. If you already have WhatsApp on your phone, you’ll automatically be added to the group. Only the admin is able to send messages.
If you do not already have WhatsApp downloaded, scanning the QR code will prompt you to download the app. Once you have the app, you will need to scan the QR code again, and you’ll be immediately added to the group.
The list of people/organizations with concerns continues to grow!
We have previously posted the list of organizations that have concerns about this proposal. Most recently, the planning staff has also recommended denial. >>Read article
The staff report cites several deficiencies to these proposals. We noted in our previous newsletter that these proposals fail to meet the 30% target for Natural Open Space. Now it seems that even the Natural Open Space they are proposing may be jeopardized. Thanks to the efforts of Julie Bolthouse at PEC, we now have a map pieced together from the PWDG Master Plan of approximate building locations and sizes (see pages 42-53).
With scissors and tape, this is the end result:
>>See PEC’s Flikr for higher-resolution images
What does this mean?
For starters, the fact that this map wasn’t part of their “master plan” leaves us wondering why? You might notice from this mock-up that transmission lines and other required infrastructure are not included here. PEC in their latest newsletter outlines that means, they would either a.) encroach upon the already insufficient Natural Open Space and potentially even the Resource Protection Area (RPA). Or b.) the utility would need to route lines and establish right-of-ways through the use of eminent domain on surrounding parcels that are not part of this application >>read newsletter in full here
Ultimately, the fate of these proposals is in the hands of the Planning Commission and the Board of County Supervisors. It has been a long 2 years and the fact that we’ve made it to this point is troubling, but again nothing is inevitable.
The Planning Commission could require more answers before these move forward.
Transmission lines, climate change and power
These massive proposals together is projected to require around 3 gigawatts (GW) of energy. That’s equivalent to the power used by 750,000 homes – roughly 5 times the number of households currently in Prince William County!
We know this would require additional transmission lines, but where exactly would they go? Where would the power be coming from? How much would that cost Virginians? How would this impact our effort to meet our climate change goals? >>See Sustainability Commission comments).
Water
Maintaining the rural area has been Prince William County primary strategy to protect our drinking water. Independent studies have shown that land disturbance of this scale would result in tons of sedimentation entering our streams and Occoquan Reservoir.
Fairfax Water issued a letter urging the Board to conduct a comprehensive study that may inform land use decisions such as the PWDG. While the Board of County Supervisors voted to conduct the study, it will be concluded after the decision has been made.
Why not wait for the results of this study?
Historic Resources
Several historic resources have been identified along the Pageland corridor and within the proposal area.
When will phase 2 of the archeological study be conducted? Why is this not being completed prior to the rezoning vote?