Washington, D.C. · Maryland · Virginia

Local Associations Building a Better Community

The DMV Alliance is a unified platform for Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia communities. By collaborating through a local voice, we unify the resources and information of local industry associations to ensure better public access to accurate information and additional resources for everyone.

Explore the five questions Find information for my community
Modern landscaped data center campus with two technical professionals walking near the entrance

START HERE

Choose what you need today.

Follow one clear path. You can explore the rest of the regional guide whenever you are ready.

01 / THE BASICS

One building. Five community questions.

The honest answer is rarely a single number. Design, climate, operating conditions, and local agreements all matter.

DMV / EXPLORE BY JURISDICTION

Three public records. Three local guides.

Compare data center and digital infrastructure evidence without mixing statewide estimates, county records, and District network measures.

VAVirginia data centersJobs, taxes, power, groundwater, and siting→MDMaryland data centersWater, development, taxes, and public review→DCWashington, DC infrastructurePublic networks, local business, and accountability→

02 / COMPARISON LAB

Change the assumptions.
See what changes.

These calculators explain relationships—not a specific project. Replace every starting value with locally sourced data before making a public claim.

TYPICAL COMMUNITY MEETING SCENARIO

Load a practical starting point for the selected topic, then replace each assumption with local project information.

SITE / PROJECT INPUT COMPARISON

How much separation and landscape restoration are planned?

Distance from homes is a starting point—not a universal safety rule. A credible siting review identifies the closest receptor, terrain, transmission routes, emergency access, and future land use.

Siting details and assumptions

Project inputs, not a score: Separation and landscape restoration should be reviewed independently against local zoning, future land use, emergency access, terrain, utilities, and the approved landscape plan.

Plant for the place: Use locally appropriate native trees, shrubs, and groundcover sized for their mature canopy. Ask where the percentage is measured, how preserved canopy is counted, and who maintains new planting.

What this result means

The 1,000-foot separation is a screening input; local zoning, future land use, terrain, and the approved site plan determine whether it is appropriate.

DOCUMENTED SEPARATION INPUT · VERIFY LOCALLY

1,000ft

A project-specific review is still required.

▦DATA CENTER
1,000 ft modeled buffer
⌂⌂HOMES
Distance to nearest residential area1,000 ft
Native replacement target75%
Required next stepVERIFY LOCALLY
?

Ask the developer: What is the nearest home today and under the future land-use plan, and where will the mature native canopy be measured?

It's a Lot of Information. Here is How to Use It.

! This is an educational model, not an engineering forecast. Read the methodology and sources.

THE EVIDENCE GUIDE

A number without context is just a talking point.

Use the same six-part label on every public claim. It makes comparisons fairer and source updates much easier later.

BREAKDOWN OF A CREDIBLE CLAIM

“

In Loudoun County, data centers added $16 billion in real-property value in 2024, bringing the total to $41 billion, according to Loudoun County’s FY2026 budget materials.

LOCATIONVALUEUNITTIMECONDITIONSOURCE

Why this claim works

It is positive without being vague. It names the place, the type of value, the one-year increase, the resulting total, the period, and the government source. It does not turn assessed property value into jobs, cash in hand, or a guarantee of lower taxes.

What to ask next: How much of that assessed value becomes recurring local revenue, how volatile is the equipment tax base, and which services or reserves receive the money?

Review Loudoun County’s published figures ↗

STARTER SOURCES / READY TO EXPAND

Power + national energyU.S. Department of Energy · Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

SOURCE TITLE2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report

LINK OR FILEOpen source ↗

WHAT IT SUPPORTSU.S. electricity use, PUE trends, facility types, and 2028 scenarios.

DATE CHECKEDJuly 14, 2026

Water + coolingLBNL national model · local utility records · project mechanical narrative

SOURCE TITLELBNL national energy and water model

LINK OR FILEOpen source ↗

WHAT IT SUPPORTSDirect water consumption by facility category and cooling system context.

DATE CHECKEDJuly 14, 2026

Sound + barriersFHWA guidance · local ordinance · acoustic study · post-construction test

SOURCE TITLEFHWA: Highway Traffic Noise Barriers at a Glance

LINK OR FILEOpen source ↗

WHAT IT SUPPORTSTypical 5–10 dB barrier reduction and the need for solid, tall, long barriers without openings.

DATE CHECKEDJuly 14, 2026

Jobs + community benefitsU.S. Census Bureau · county tax records · development agreement

SOURCE TITLEU.S. Census: Employment in Data Centers

LINK OR FILEOpen source ↗

WHAT IT SUPPORTSNational employment growth and the distinction between direct and supported jobs.

DATE CHECKEDJuly 14, 2026

DMV regional contextLoudoun County · Maryland county records · District zoning

SOURCE TITLELoudoun County: Data Centers in Loudoun County

LINK OR FILEOpen source ↗

WHAT IT SUPPORTSLocal planning, tax-base context, public process, and regional source discovery.

DATE CHECKEDJuly 14, 2026

Native canopy + stormwaterEPA tree guidance · local forestry plan · approved landscape plan

SOURCE TITLEEPA: Stormwater Trees Technical Memorandum

LINK OR FILEOpen source ↗

WHAT IT SUPPORTSSelecting trees for climate, soil, mature canopy, sunlight, moisture, and long-term maintenance.

DATE CHECKEDJuly 14, 2026

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