Virginia voter support for new data centers collapses from 69% in 2023 to 35% in new poll — Multi-gigawatt, 37-building Digital Gateway project abandoned

Support for new data centers in Virginia has plummeted from 69% to 35% among voters, with the abandonment of the massive Digital Gateway project in Prince William County. The project, which would have been one of the largest data center developments in the country, faced legal challenges and opposition from various groups. This shift in sentiment reflects a broader trend of increased resistance to data center projects across the U.S., with many facing delays or cancellations due to community pushback and regulatory hurdles. The cancellation of the Digital Gateway project raises questions about where the capacity will be redirected and the potential impact on fiber latency in the region.