Wedoany.com Report-Jun 29, EdgeCore, a wholesale data centre developer, has acquired 697 acres in the Shannon Hill Regional Business Park in Louisa County, Virginia, to build a 3.9 million square foot data centre campus with a capacity exceeding 1.1 gigawatts. This project significantly expands EdgeCore’s presence in Virginia, supporting the region’s growing digital infrastructure needs.

Lee Kestler, CEO of EdgeCore, stated: “EdgeCore was deliberate and intentional in our decision to commit to Louisa County for the development of a 1.1+ GW high-density data centre campus. The investment in this land enables EdgeCore to expand our growth in Central Virginia, providing our hyperscale and AI focused customers with scalable, cost-efficient data centre solutions, while simultaneously benefitting the residents of Louisa County with decades of tax revenue, job creation and ancillary investments.”

Governor Glenn Youngkin said: “Virginia is the world capital for the infrastructure on which the internet and the entire global economy runs... We are proud to welcome EdgeCore to Central Virginia where their $17 billion investment will create jobs and fund vital public resources.”

The project has the backing of local energy providers, with John Hewa, CEO of Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, noting: “REC and our affiliate, Hyperscale Energy, are proud to support EdgeCore's significant investment in Louisa County. Their vision aligns with the growing demands of the digital economy.”

EdgeCore is adopting a community-focused approach, drawing on its experience from data centre campuses in Phoenix, Ashburn, and Reno. William Jabjiniak, SVP of National Community/Government Relations, stated: “In Louisa County, we intend to contribute as a good neighbour would by investing our time and resources to the betterment of the county at large.”

The campus will incorporate sustainable design, featuring a closed-loop air-cooled system with a water usage effectiveness rating below 0.01 L/kWh, minimizing impact on local water resources. This initiative supports the region’s economic growth by creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and fostering sustainable infrastructure to meet the demands of hyperscale and AI-driven technologies.