Amazon swaps Loudoun data centers for homes and park

Amazon has scrapped its plans to construct four data centers on a former George Washington University campus in Loudoun County, Virginia. The technology giant will instead develop the majority of the 122-acre site into mixed-use commercial and residential spaces. The decision follows intense local opposition to the project, as reported by The Washington Post.

The new deal includes specific concessions to the county. Amazon will transfer 25 acres of the property to Loudoun County for the construction of a community arts center and a recreational facility. The company will also contribute $5 million to the county's housing fund.

The site is located in an area known as Data Center Alley, which contains the densest cluster of data centers globally. Residents have expressed concern over the noise generated by these facilities and the substantial electricity they consume. The county's posture on new construction has shifted in recent months, moving away from automatic approval.

Amazon submitted its initial proposal for the four facilities in July. In September, Phyllis J. Randall, chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, met with company representatives. During that meeting, Randall suggested that the company might find a more suitable use for the land.

Josh Weissman, Amazon's vice president for data center development, stated that the company moved quickly to purchase the campus when the opportunity arose. He acknowledged the county's specific concerns about the site. "While we see the property's legal development potential differently than the County does, we concluded that the best outcome for all is to come together on a shared vision for this campus rather than engage in costly litigation," Weissman said.

The shift occurs amid a national conversation about the cost of data centers. President Donald Trump recently urged data center builders and AI companies to pay a dividend to local communities due to rising energy prices. He also said such facilities should generate their own power and sell surplus energy back to the grid. This pressure adds context to the local negotiations in Loudoun.

Randall described the outcome as a result of cooperative efforts. "By choosing dialogue over reflexive disagreement, Loudoun County and Amazon created an opportunity for the County," she said in a statement. "This agreement provides new places for our Loudoun residents to gather, create, and play. And, most importantly to me, we will provide more attainable homes for working families."