The Data Centers Are Coming: Ep. 1 - Planting a Flag

Podcast: Building Local Power (LS 41 · TOP 1.5% what is this?)Episode: The Data Centers Are Coming: Ep. 1 - Planting a FlagPub date: 2026-04-30Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationWelcome to Building Local Power’s “The Data Centers Are Coming,” where we journey to some of the most active places in the cross-country battle over data centers in our local communities. We start at the epicenter: Data Center Alley in Loudoun County, Virginia. This once semi-rural community has now been transformed by Big Tech’s sprawling data centers, sparking a fight for land, autonomy, and transparency from local residents. What does it feel like living there now? How is it impacting home values, affordability, energy and water usage, electric bills, and the overall well-being of the people who live nearby? We took a road trip to find out. In this episode we hear from:  Elena Schlossenberg: Our local tour guide, and deeply involved in grassroots organizing in Prince William County and Loudoun County. She has a deep knowledge of land use management and is the Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County.Greg Pirio: A longtime Sterling, VA resident, Greg’s home literally sits across the street from a Vantage data center. Greg is an artist and has become an unlikely activist, organizing his neighbors to advocate for local solutions and demand accountability for the relentless noise pollution impacting their daily lives. The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Institute for Local Self-Reliance, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.