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Sterling residents press Loudoun for noise monitoring and rules after data center runs off‑grid generators
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Summary
Sterling neighbors and environmental groups told the board about persistent high‑pitched noise from an off‑grid data‑center generator, urging county monitoring, tighter noise rules for tonal noise, and coordination with DEQ; DPZ said noise and data‑center standards are part of an active zoning amendment.
Several Loudoun residents told the Board of Supervisors on Jan. 21 that a data center in Sterling operating on self‑generated power produces a persistent tonal noise that they say is harming quality of life and property values.
"It causes headaches. My neighbors tell me that they get headaches from it. Their children have a hard time sleeping at night," said Greg Perio, a Sterling resident. "We need relief from this. Establish sound‑monitoring stations and enforce the noise ordinance." (SEG 2549–2563 and SEG 2668–2676).
Multiple speakers described a continuous high‑frequency tone from gas‑powered turbines and backup generators running year‑round. Community members requested county‑installed monitoring stations, public access to monitoring data, and stronger county standards for persistent tonal noise.
Emily Johnson of the Piedmont Environmental Council told the board that the incident offers a case study the county should use to set expectations for on‑site generation, require monitoring and mitigation, and coordinate with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality when generator or turbine operations affect nearby neighborhoods (SEG 3078–3114).
DPZ Director Dan Galindo told the board that data‑center standards and noise‑handling are in the ZOAM (zoning ordinance amendment) work plan and that the county’s consultants are specifically addressing noise issues as part of the phase‑2 effort on data‑center standards (SEG 4116–4136). He said new procurement of consultants (WSP and Berkeley Group) should allow staff to work on noise and related regulations.
Board members asked staff to consider permanent monitoring and explore whether noise standards and public‑notice provisions for turbines should be updated; no new regulation was adopted at the meeting — DPZ said changes are in the active zoning work plan and will return for future consideration.
Next steps: DPZ to continue ZOAM work on data center standards with a noise focus and to brief the board on monitoring and enforcement options.
