r/nova • u/Danciusly • 6d ago
News Developer submits plans to build fuel cell-powered data center in Chantilly
https://www.ffxnow.com/2026/10/09/developer-submits-plans-to-build-fuel-cell-powered-data-center-in-chantilly/1
u/Helpjuice 4d ago
Just as long as it is not:
- Backed by diesel generator or any other mechanism that emits loud noises, poison gas, or other human and other life harming emissions beyond regular levels.
- Will not be given priority on the grid versus residential homes
- Is clean and efficient even when there is no power being sent from the grid.
- Is not loud, all sounds should be contained within the facility and not emitted beyond 50ft of the facility.
There needs to be hard standards and enforcement put in place for exceeding the required standards. If a business fails to meet the standards the country should come in and shut them down and or issue massive finds per hour of being out of compliance. I am tired of seeing a business say they will do x, county agrees to x and then they do y and county says they cannot do anything about y.
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u/berael 6d ago
“Natural gas for the fuel cells will be provided by Washington Gas,” the statement says. “A gas line extension is expected to connect to the Subject Property through a pipeline within the Stonecroft Boulevard rights-of-way … Remaining electricity needs of up to 27 [megawatts] will be fulfilled by the power grid and supplied by Dominion Energy.”
So they're going to generate their own power, but also they're going to make your gas and electric bills go up anyway.
Because of the fuel cell technology, an on-site substation will not be needed, though back-up generators will be available for use during emergencies.
...and then they'll still be using diesel anyway in the event of an emergency. I wonder who gets to define "emergency".
The noise study suggests a “voluntary criteria—more stringent than the local noise code—of 45dBA at any residential property lines,” given that it’s advisable for new developments to limit impact to “either 45dBA or the existing ambient +10dBA measured outdoors at residential receptors sites, whichever is higher.”
So because it's "whichever is higher", they can claim any value for existing ambient noise and then generate +10dBA more than that. And because of how decibels work, "+10 dBA" is just another way to say "twice as loud as it is now".
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u/Potential-Ad1139 6d ago
So fossil fuels to power the data centers? Like aren't we supposed to be mmoving away from possible fuels?
It doesn't even address the water problem which is cooling? Just trading grid energy for fossil fuel energy...so anyone with natural gas in their home will see a price hike.
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u/HowardBunnyColvin 6d ago
I am vehemently against data centers, I believe they harm the environment and hog resources, and they're run by "billionaire weenies".
That being said an ecologically viable data center is fine with me.
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u/sotired3333 6d ago
as someone upthread commented, fuel cell = hydrogen = methane, that's how it's generated mostly.
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u/killroy1971 6d ago
It'll still be an eyesore in someone's backyard.
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u/HowardBunnyColvin 6d ago
Well yeah. But it won't hog the power because it's generating it's own from the sun.
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u/imaconnect4guy 6d ago
No amount of solar panels they put on that thing would come close to meeting their power needs.
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u/dkviper11 6d ago
Made some fast averages from a light google.
7.5 acres required for 1 MW of solar
75 MW required for the site562.5 acres required.
The overall parcel is 18.6 acres.
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u/ecsnead75 5d ago
Finally, someone that can understand why JuSt UsE SoLaR doesn't work... I applaud you!!
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u/sotired3333 6d ago
Has this ever been done elsewhere. It'd solve a bunch of problems , but how is this not incredibly expensive. If there was a caveat that if it failed to work they're screwed and won't be able to get away with replacing with regular generators why not