Data Center Giant Plans to Expand in Sterling 

Digital Realty Trust is seeking approval to expand its data center campus near Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County, Virginia., Boston Business Journal reported. The early-stage proposal, filed with the county’s planning department, suggests a maximum possible size of 11.7 million square feet, a 50% increase over the original plan.  

While this theoretical maximum may not be realized due to various constraints, including power availability and regulatory considerations, even a fraction of this expansion would represent a substantial increase to Digital Realty’s portfolio. 

The Western Lands project, as it is known, comprises nearly 450 acres and was acquired by Digital Realty in 2018. The company currently has about 5 million square feet of data center space in Northern Virginia, with more in development. CEO Andrew Power mentioned in a recent earnings call the potential for 900 megawatts of buildable capacity at Digital Dulles, with access to power expected in 2026 and beyond. 

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