Virginia Residents Defeat World's Largest Data Center at Manassas Battlefield

Happy 4th of July! On this Independence Day weekend 2026, Virginia residents just scored a major victory for their communities and historic heritage.

QTS has officially withdrawn its Virginia Supreme Court appeal, killing the proposed Prince William Digital Gateway — once billed as the world's largest data center campus right next to Manassas National Battlefield Park. After years of fierce opposition, Compass Data Centers had already pulled out, and now the entire project is dead.

Uriah Kiser breaks down how local residents banded together — attending marathon public hearings (including one that lasted 27 hours), organizing, going to court, and ultimately defeating two powerful data center giants. The proposed complex would have brought tens of thousands of square feet of industrial development equivalent to 175 Super Walmarts on land adjacent to one of America's most important Civil War battlefields.

This story highlights the real impacts of Virginia's data center boom: soaring power bills for residents who subsidize grid connections, massive water usage for cooling, limited long-term jobs, and ongoing fights over billions in tax breaks. Meanwhile, Democrats are in a civil war over data center policy, with Governor Abigail Spanberger and House leaders protecting breaks worth $2 billion annually while Senate Democrats push for change.

No one is saying data centers aren't needed for America's AI leadership, but Virginians deserve a voice in where they go. This is a powerful example of what organized residents can achieve.

Source: https://www.potomaclocal.com/2026/07/03/qts-withdraws-supreme-court-appeal-ending-proposed-digital-gateway-data-center-project/

If you're in Virginia and care about taxes, energy costs, historic preservation, and smart growth, this is must-watch news.

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