Virginia is known as the data center capital of the world, home to hundreds of active facilities. In Sterling, however, the rapid expansion has upended local lives. Some residents have resorted to covering their windows with mattresses and plexiglass to block out a relentless, high-pitched whine from a nearby facility. Unlike traditional centers drawing grid power, this site relies on around-the-clock natural gas turbines that run 24/7, leaving neighbors trapped in a constant wall of noise.
