GridFreeze · County Watch

Where data centers meet the local fight

A running read on data-center development across the counties that decide it: the votes, the zoning, the grid load. Every line below links to the public record.

This page is the current week. Read the back issues.

Data refreshed Aug 21, 2026

Our national sweep has reached 13 jurisdictions across 6 states. In total, 18 jurisdictions show active data-center matters on the public record. Here's where the fights are.

governance actions on data centers

3,726 MW

of data-center load requested

300 MW

largest single request

jurisdictions tracked

Computed live from the public record, since Jul 2024.

Get County Watch every Friday

One email a week: the governance votes, zoning cases and grid load that moved, each linked to the public record it came from.

Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe from any of them.

We alert the day we detect a matter. Over the last 60 days detection ran a median of 2worst case of 14. Speed varies by source, and every alert prints its own measured lag so you can check it. Next business day is the engineering target.

Loudoun County, VA: the standards fight

Data Center Alley is also where the rules are being rewritten: standards votes, rezonings, and substation cases that decide what gets built next.

Governance / standards · Loudoun County, VA

Loudoun County, VA: the standards fight

The application for the Barrister Substation was approved by a vote of 7-2.

A bill was introduced to allow localities to consider the impacts of high-energy users on the electric grid in zoning decisions.

The applicant is requesting a Special Exception to permit data center use in moderately steep slopes.

The application seeks to rezone 10.08 acres from the Planned Development – Research and Development Park to the PD-RDP Legacy Zoning District.

Staff supports a recommendation of approval to the Board of Supervisors.

The purpose of this item is to consider a Commission Permit (CMPT) and Special Exception (SPEX) to permit a Utility, Major (utility substation) in the Industrial Park (IP) Zoning District.

A Special Exception to establish the Aspen Substation (Utility, Major) and related SPEX modifications is being considered for approval by the Board subject to Conditions of Approval.

The Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission will discuss proposed standards and locations for data centers.

Data Centers were designated as a Conditional Use in the Loudoun County 2019 General Plan.

The Planning Commission considered a Commission Permit and Special Exception to permit a Utility, Major (utility substation) in the General Industrial (GI) Zoning District, and a Minor SPEX to modify buffer requirements.

The applicant is requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to rezone 117.07 acres from JLMA-3 to PD-IP to allow for a business/industrial park with up to 986,000 square feet of industrial uses.

At the Board Business Meeting on March 18, 2025, the Board adopted (7-2: Kershner and Umstattd opposed) Phase 1 and the Grandfathering Resolution (5-4: Briskman, Glass, TeKrony, and Turner opposed).

The Virginia load pipeline

New data-center load request: Slayden Creek in Hanover County, VA (300.0 MW).

New data-center load request: Wesbey Drive in Louisa County, VA (292.0 MW).

New data-center load request: Shaw in Culpeper County, VA (300.0 MW).

New data-center load request: Barrister in Loudoun County, VA (290.0 MW).

New data-center load request: Mudel in Prince William County, VA (300.0 MW).

Texas: the model travels

Mesquite, TX City Council: Public Hearing and Ordinance - ZTA No. 2026-01 (Passed).

Mesquite, TX City Council: Public Hearing and Ordinance - Zoning Application No. ZTA2026-01 (Postponed).

Mesquite, TX City Council: Data Center Development Standards (Pre-Meeting).