No More Secrets

The data center companies are highly secretive about the data centers that power the internet. There are some valid reasons, but the cloud companies operating in our region have used secrecy to hide their activities from their neighbors, cut deals in secret and sidestep public concerns. Now that secrecy could create a public health disaster. According to the Washington Post, there are 275 data centers in Northern Virginia and over 70% of the internet traffic goes through our communities. 

Now the data centers and northern Virginia have a problem.  Dominion Energy lacks sufficient transmission capacity to consistently power data centers, and during times of high power demand if the data centers do not shut down, they could bring down the grid. When the PJM load forecast was updated last summer, PJM identified the need for additional 230 kV transmission segments to serve data centers in our area (Loudoun, Prince William and Fairfax). The sheer size of the load and its flat profile throughout the day, require more transmission capacity. There is no work around. Dominion needs to run more 230 kV transmission wire to avoid the potential of a cascading failure. Unfortunately, that takes time.

Though Dominion Energy has made significant investments in new infrastructure, it has not kept up with the surging growth of data center demand for power. According to Dominion Energy, the transmission constraints will persist until at least 2025. According to PJM the currently operating data centers could cause a cascade failure in the power grid. To prevent knocking out the entire region, in times of grid stress, they need for the data centers to power down. However, if you turn off the data centers, you turn off the internet.

As a short term solution the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing to allow data centers located in the Counties of Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William to operate using their emergency generators when a "Maximum Generation Emergency/Load Management Alert" or a "Post Contingency Local Load Relief Warning" is given by PJM.  That would authorize the data centers' on-site generators to operate when transmission constraints and strain on the electric grid are acute, and allow the data centers to avoid shutting down and to continue to serve their customers, maintain the integrity of internet, and alleviate demand on the electric grid during periods of stress. The current variance is for March through July 2023, but would have to be renewed annually (or seasonally) through at least 2025.

There is a cost. When the generators fire up there will be thousands of industrial sized diesel generators of various ages operating simultaneously during a period of high electricity demand, probably a heat wave. These will be stationary sources of pollution in a limited area operating on the ground level. It is essential that we avoid creating a public health emergency in our communities along with a power emergency.

The emission standards for newly manufactured diesel generators were tightened from 2008 through 2015 under Clean Air Non-Road Diesel Rule of 2004. The dates of manufacture of the  generators deployed all over northern Virginia is not known.  In addition, there has never been a planned operation of thousands upon thousands of stationary diesel generators in such a small geographic location before. According to CARB diesel engines emit a mixture of air pollutants. The solid material in diesel exhaust is known as diesel particulate matter (DPM). DPM is a subset of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) and is the particulate matter air pollution most associated with adverse acute and long term health effects. These health effects include cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalizations, and premature death.

Health effects can result from both acute and long-term exposure to particulate pollution. People most sensitive to particulate pollution include infants and children, the elderly, and people with existing heart and lung disease. The smallest particles can penetrate deepest, causing the greatest harm. Particles created from combustion soot tend to be fine particles with diameters smaller than 1 microns  which are the most dangerous because they lodge in the lungs.

According to the EPA: "The health effects of particle pollution exposure can range from relatively minor (e.g., eye and respiratory tract irritation) to more serious health effects (e.g., exacerbation of asthma and heart failure, and premature death). Fine particles are respiratory irritants, and exposures to high concentrations can cause persistent coughing, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.  Even in healthy people, exposures to fine particles can potentially lead to transient reductions in lung function, and pulmonary inflammation.”

To protect the residents of Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William it is essential that when the data centers are going to switch to diesel power that the public is notified of the forthcoming air quality emergency. This would allow the population to take sensible steps like avoiding outdoor activities and sports to protect themselves and their children farm harm. Notification would allow the most vulnerable individuals in our community to take protective measures by staying indoors, using air purifiers, wearing masks etc. could prevent acute health emergencies. In addition, the data center companies need install air monitors around their properties that would be available to publicly view the air quality in real time so that regulators, health organizations and others can know what they are dealing with.

Like it or not, data centers are part of our community and the time for the excessive secrecy, non-disclosure and other “trade secret” BS has passed. It is apparent, that DEQ and the Commonwealth will allow data centers to operate on their generators. It is obvious that DEQ has forgotten that the point of the regulations is to protect people and the environment, not serve industry. They need to help us to protect ourselves, our children and the most vulnerable in our counties by requiring community notification and real time air quality monitoring. Come to the Public hearing on February 27, 2023 at 11 am in the Conference Room, DEQ Northern Regional Office, 13901 Crown Court, Woodbridge VA.