Ashburn: Report raises air-quality questions for Ashburn school ringed by 11 data centers

An NBC News investigation published Nov. 1 is drawing attention to air quality around Discovery Elementary School in Ashburn, which sits within a half-mile of 11 data centers that together have as many as 264 backup diesel generators.

The report, by NBC correspondent Stephanie Gosk and colleagues, examines how the Loudoun County school came to be surrounded by data centers and what emissions from the facilities' backup generators could mean for students. Experts told NBC that diesel generators release air pollutants that can cause health problems, especially for young people and the elderly.

Stephen S. Fong, a Virginia Commonwealth University professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering who was interviewed for the report, said that by his calculations a single generator running at full capacity emits more pollution than 100 18-wheelers, according to VCU News. Given the number and size of generators being installed for data centers, "they're producing enough air pollution that there are concerns about what kind of health impacts this would have on students," Fong told NBC.

Asked whether the state should continuously monitor air quality near the school, Fong said, "Personally, I think they should." He told VCU News that the number of backup generators and how often they run is not publicly known, and that continuous monitoring would give students and residents real-time information.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality launched an EPA-funded sensor program in eastern Loudoun earlier this year in response to residents' concerns about emissions from data center backup generators and natural gas turbines, Loudoun Now reported in April. The sensors measure fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Early data released through April 23 showed PM2.5 readings well below the national standard except for two spikes, including one near the standard at a sensor at Stuart Weller Elementary School in Ashburn; carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide readings were well below national limits. The program was scheduled to move its sensors to Prince William County in June, with follow-up monitoring at any locations needing more evaluation.

DEQ has also said that data centers' actual emissions are typically well below their permitted limits, according to Loudoun Now, and the Data Center Coalition has said misleading claims about the industry are common. The Piedmont Environmental Council, which has led much of the local concern, has said DEQ's work addresses permit compliance while its own focuses on health.

Loudoun County's "data center alley" is the world's largest concentration of data centers.

Sources: NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/11-data-centers-264-diesel-generators-surround-elementary-school-safe-rcna603796); VCU News (https://news.vcu.edu/article/nbc-news-and-today-feature-vcus-stephen-fong-in-report-on-data-centers-and-public-health); Loudoun Now (https://www.loudounnow.com/news/deq-launches-air-quality-monitoring-in-ashburn-s-data-center-alley/article_3e4aea6b-24bc-45fb-9f5e-4b5a1578fb23.html)

Email the Board of Supervisors at:
Phyllis J. Randall (Chair, At-Large) – Phyllis.Randall@loudoun.gov,
Michael R. Turner (Vice Chair, Ashburn District) – Mike.Turner@loudoun.gov,
Juli E. Briskman (Algonkian District) – Juli.Briskman@loudoun.gov,
Sylvia R. Glass (Broad Run District) – Sylvia.Glass@loudoun.gov,
Caleb Kershner (Catoctin District) – caleb.kershner@loudoun.gov,
Matthew F. Letourneau (Dulles District) – Matt.Letourneau@loudoun.gov,
Kristen C. Umstattd (Leesburg District) – Kristen.Umstattd@loudoun.gov,
Laura A. TeKrony (Little River District) – Laura.TeKrony@loudoun.gov,
Koran Saines (Sterling District) – Koran.Saines@loudoun.gov

Loudoun County is a county in Northern Virginia. Its county seat is Leesburg.