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The New Energy Crisis

Investigating the impact of Virginia’s data center explosion — a special series by the Fauquier Times & Prince William Times

Read Part 1

Series: The New Energy Crisis

An investigative series uncovering how Virginia’s data center boom—fueled by AI—threatens to overwhelm the power grid, drive up household energy costs, and put entire communities at risk.

AI explosion pushing power grids, wallets to the brink. What it all means to you.

PART 1

Why the Mid-Atlantic grid is in danger of seeing brownouts and blackouts

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PART 2

Electric bills steadily rise as data centers multiply. Is what you pay fair?

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PART 3

Rappahannock Electric opens door to building own power supply. It’s not ruling out nuclear power.

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PART 4

With wealth to be had, four factions form a juggernaut of power: data centers, utilities, developers, politicians

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PART 5

Without limits on campaign donations, utilities, developers and unions give millions and watch all reform bills die

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PART 6

Nuclear energy fever is spreading fast, but can reactors ever be the answer to soaring data center demand?

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PART 7

New measures have made nuclear plants safer, but not failproof, and waste still has no permanent storage

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PART 8

As data centers multiply, so must transmission lines. Protesting residents are scoring a few victories.

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PART 9

AI explosion pushing power grids, wallets to the brink. What it all means to you.

PART 1

Why the Mid-Atlantic grid is in danger of seeing brownouts and blackouts

text

PART 2

Electric bills steadily rise as data centers multiply. Is what you pay fair?

text

PART 3

Rappahannock Electric opens door to building own power supply. It’s not ruling out nuclear power.

text

PART 4

With wealth to be had, four factions form a juggernaut of power: data centers, utilities, developers, politicians

text

PART 5

Without limits on campaign donations, utilities, developers and unions give millions and watch all reform bills die

text

PART 6

Nuclear energy fever is spreading fast, but can reactors ever be the answer to soaring data center demand?

text

PART 7

New measures have made nuclear plants safer, but not failproof, and waste still has no permanent storage

text

PART 8

As data centers multiply, so must transmission lines. Protesting residents are scoring a few victories.

text

PART 9

AI explosion pushing power grids, wallets to the brink. What it all means to you.

PART 1

Why the Mid-Atlantic grid is in danger of seeing brownouts and blackouts

text

PART 2

Electric bills steadily rise as data centers multiply. Is what you pay fair?

text

PART 3

Rappahannock Electric opens door to building own power supply. It’s not ruling out nuclear power.

text

PART 4

With wealth to be had, four factions form a juggernaut of power: data centers, utilities, developers, politicians

text

PART 5

Without limits on campaign donations, utilities, developers and unions give millions and watch all reform bills die

text

PART 6

Nuclear energy fever is spreading fast, but can reactors ever be the answer to soaring data center demand?

text

PART 7

New measures have made nuclear plants safer, but not failproof, and waste still has no permanent storage

text

PART 8

As data centers multiply, so must transmission lines. Protesting residents are scoring a few victories.

text

PART 9

The Latest

Catch up on our latest coverage of data centers in and around Virginia.

Data center demand doubles power forecast

Oct 31, 2025

Data center demand doubles power forecast

Oct 31, 2025

New gas plant sought to power planned Remington data centers

Oct 24, 2025

New gas plant sought to power planned Remington data centers

Oct 24, 2025

Planning commission opposes Dominion expansion

Oct 21, 2025

Planning commission opposes Dominion expansion

Oct 21, 2025

Why Fauquier County Supervisor Daron Culbertson is selling his family farm for a data center

Oct 8, 2025

Why Fauquier County Supervisor Daron Culbertson is selling his family farm for a data center

Oct 8, 2025

Judge overturns Prince William Digital Gateway

Aug 8, 2025

Judge overturns Prince William Digital Gateway

Aug 8, 2025

Great Oak residents Rob Pixley, left, and Dale Brown, right, measure the data center noise from Pixley’s deck. The data center complex at the root of ongoing noise complaints is about 400 feet from Pixley’s backyard.

Coming crackdown on data center noise likely won't bring relief to a community most affected

Jul 25, 2025

Coming crackdown on data center noise likely won't bring relief to a community most affected

Jul 25, 2025

Data center demand doubles power forecast

Oct 31, 2025

New gas plant sought to power planned Remington data centers

Oct 24, 2025

Data center demand doubles power forecast

Oct 31, 2025

New gas plant sought to power planned Remington data centers

Oct 24, 2025

Planning commission opposes Dominion expansion

Oct 21, 2025

Why Fauquier County Supervisor Daron Culbertson is selling his family farm for a data center

Oct 8, 2025

Data center demand doubles power forecast

Oct 31, 2025

New gas plant sought to power planned Remington data centers

Oct 24, 2025

Planning commission opposes Dominion expansion

Oct 21, 2025

Why Fauquier County Supervisor Daron Culbertson is selling his family farm for a data center

Oct 8, 2025

Planning commission opposes Dominion expansion

Oct 21, 2025

Why Fauquier County Supervisor Daron Culbertson is selling his family farm for a data center

Oct 8, 2025

Looking for more? Click below to access full archive of data centers stories.

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