Source: Fox News
Summary
Residents of Statesboro Place in Loudoun County, Virginia, live near data centers operated by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft. The facilities, which have replaced open fields, generate constant noise and concern. A resident described the hum as audible on walking trails. Microsoft and Amazon stated they are working with local communities to address issues. Loudoun County has seen significant data center growth, with 230 built or under construction as of March 2026. The county’s budget relies heavily on data center tax revenue, but residents say their property taxes have increased despite lower tax rates.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Residents speak of noise and trees as solutions.
Companies say they are listening and working.
Counties count on tax dollars from the same facilities.
Neighborhoods now share space with the future, but not the benefits.
Author: Evan Null
ASHBURN, Va.
First came the explosions, the heavy machinery and the red dust that coated the neighborhood. Soon after, towering, windowless buildings emerged just beyond a thin row of trees.
THE SILENCE GAVE WAY TO A STEADY MECHANICAL HUM
Months after the construction noise faded, the silence gave way to a steady mechanical hum. For homeowners on the tucked-away cul-de-sac of Statesboro Place in Loudoun County, Virginia, suburban life now shares a fence line with the infrastructure powering America’s artificial intelligence (AI) boom.
THE FACILITIES BEHIND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The facilities behind the neighborhood are operated by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, two of the world’s largest cloud computing companies. One resident told Fox News Digital that the noise is constant and that trees are not a solution.
THE RESIDENTS’ CONCERNS
Residents say they were drawn to the spacious lots, unobstructed views and quiet streets, all of which are now overshadowed by featureless buildings. One resident, who bought the home nearly a decade ago, said the hum extends beyond the backyards and can be heard along the community’s walking trails.
THE FINANCIAL IMPACT
The data centers that transformed the landscape have also reshaped Loudoun County’s finances. County officials say data centers generated $1.2 billion in tax revenue in fiscal year 2026 — 39% of the county budget — and project that figure will rise to $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2027. The revenue helps fund county services and keep tax rates lower, but residents say their individual bills have continued to rise.
