Residents in northern Virginia, a region home to the world's largest cluster of data centers, are pushing for stricter regulations on new developments. These data centers, which house servers for internet services and cloud computing, have grown rapidly in the area due to its access to fiber-optic networks and a favorable business climate. While many residents have lived near these facilities for years, an increasing number now advocate for rules that improve transparency and accountability. As a result, major development plans have been pulled or rejected. For example, a 2,100-acre campus intended to house up to 37 data centers in Prince William County was withdrawn in early July 2026, and a 2,000-acre rezoning proposal in the same county was also rejected. A survey of 1,004 residents in northern Virginia and the Richmond metropolitan area explored public preferences for regulating data centers. Participants evaluated various policy options, including where data centers can be built, how power lines are placed, electricity costs, environmental impacts, and the need for public input before projects are approved. The survey found that residents place the highest value on policies that address visible and immediate concerns. These include underground power lines to reduce visual clutter, restrictions on building data centers near homes, schools, and parks, and regular reporting of energy and water usage. These measures are seen as more directly impacting daily life and are more likely to be supported by the public. Residents also emphasized the importance of being involved in decisions that affect their communities. In Loudoun County, for instance, a requirement for public hearings was introduced in early 2025, allowing residents to voice their concerns before data center projects are approved. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump administration attempted to reduce the need for such public hearings when it came to air-pollution permits for data centers. This created a tension between local efforts to involve residents and federal policies that sometimes limit community input. While public support for some complex issues, such as whether data centers should pay higher electricity rates, was less clear, the rising costs of infrastructure have led to significant increases in electricity prices. Wholesale electricity prices in the region more than tripled between 2020 and 2025. In August 2026, Reuters reported that Virginia’s data center boom could lead to a monthly increase of about $20 in typical residential electricity bills from Dominion Energy, the area’s main power provider. Despite these concerns, about 47% of survey respondents supported data center development in their communities, 25% were neutral, and 27% opposed it. Overall, the findings suggest that residents are not inherently against data center growth but want regulations that address negative effects, ensure public input, and provide safeguards for their communities.