The Data Centers Are Coming: Ep. 1 - Planting a Flag

The Data Centers Are Coming: Ep. 1 - Planting a Flag

From Building Local Power by Institute for Local Self-Reliance

April 30, 2026 · 41 min · Episode 1

About this episode

The episode explores the impact of data centers on local communities, focusing on Loudoun County, Virginia.

Welcome to Building Local Power’s “The Data Centers Are Coming,” where we journey to some of the most active places in the cross-country battle over data centers in our local communities. We start at the epicenter: Data Center Alley in Loudoun County, Virginia. This once semi-rural community has now been transformed by Big Tech’s sprawling data centers, sparking a fight for land, autonomy, and transparency from local residents. What does it feel like living there now? How is it impacting home values, affordability, energy and water usage, electric bills, and the overall well-being of the people who live nearby? We took a road trip to find out. In this episode we hear from: Elena Schlossenberg : Our local tour guide, and deeply involved in grassroots organizing in Prince William County and Loudoun County. She has a deep knowledge of land use management and is the Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County . Greg Pirio : A longtime Sterling, VA resident, Greg’s home literally sits across the street from a Vantage data center. Greg is an artist and has become an unlikely activist, organizing his neighbors to advocate for local solutions and demand…

People in this episode

Guests: Elena Schlossenberg, Greg Pirio

Topics covered

  • data centers
  • local communities
  • land use
  • activism
  • environmental impact
  • community well-being

Keywords

  • data centers
  • Loudoun County
  • community activism
  • land use management
  • Big Tech
  • noise pollution
  • home values

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Coalition to Protect Prince William County, Big Tech

Places: Loudoun County, Virginia, Prince William County, Sterling, VA

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