(The Center Square) – Stafford County is considering its 16th data center proposal as developers look to build on nearly 845 acres near Kings Highway and Forest Lane.
The Forest Lane Data Center project would rezone the land from agricultural and light industrial to heavy industrial to allow for data center use and related infrastructure. The site, located in the George Washington Election District, is under review by county staff. The applicant is Real Estate Pursuits 2 LC.
Protect Stafford, a local group tracking development proposals, noted the Forest Lane project marks the 16th active data center application in the county’s pipeline.
A data center is a facility that stores and manages servers and data systems used for email, file storage, cloud computing and other digital services. These facilities require large amounts of electricity and cooling systems to operate, and Virginia has become a leading hub for the industry.
Virginia holds the largest concentration of data centers in the world, according to the Piedmont Environmental Council, with projects driving up energy demand, water use and land impacts across the commonwealth.
Nearly all projected electricity demand growth in Virginia through 2045 is expected to come from data center operations, according to PJM, which oversees the regional power grid.
As previously reported by The Center Square, a recent national poll from Libertas Network found that 46% of voters oppose new data centers in their communities, with more opposition when tax incentives are offered to attract projects. The findings highlight concerns some residents have raised about local data center projects, including questions about energy use, land impacts and tax breaks.
A report from Good Jobs First found Virginia spent about $732 million on state tax exemptions for data centers in 2024, making it one of several states with significant taxpayer spending tied to the industry’s growth. The report noted that many states offer automatic and uncapped sales and use tax exemptions on data center equipment and infrastructure, which can make it difficult for states to project costs as more projects are built.
The proposal comes as Virginia heads into the November elections, with the outcome likely to shape whether lawmakers revisit data center legislation next year.
Del. Josh Thomas, who sponsored a bill requiring site assessments and environmental reviews for new data centers that was vetoed earlier this year, said he plans to bring the measure back for the 2026 session.
“Data center sprawl is a serious concern for constituents’ homes and schools, which is why I absolutely plan to bring HB1601 back for the 2026 legislative session,” Thomas said in an email to The Center Square. “Powering data centers will be one of the largest issues facing the Virginia General Assembly this decade. We must take action now on sustainable energy sources and managing data center load onto the grid.”
The Stafford County Planning Commission’s Data Center Subcommittee is scheduled to meet July 16 at the Government Center.
