By Dan Rabb for BizNow
Lawmakers in Prince William County, Virginia, have approved the controversial Prince William Digital Gateway, greenlighting what is planned to be the world’s largest data center hub.
Prince William County’s Board of County Supervisors voted Wednesday to approve zoning changes needed for a pair of massive campuses proposed by QTS and Compass Datacenters that will see over 22M SF of data center space built across more than 2,000 acres in the largely rural region of Northern Virginia.
The vote concluded a marathon 27-hour board meeting that often turned combative — a reflection of the deep divisions surrounding the PW Digital Gateway development that has sparked furious opposition and emerged as a key wedge issue in local politics.
“This has been a contentious decision and issue for the past two years … it has drawn the community apart,” said Supervisor Victor Angry, who voted in favor of approving the projects. “But this is an opportunity for this county.”
