In Northern Virginia, collective emissions from more than 100 data center backup generators rival output from the region's largest power plants. VCU researchers map CO, NOx and PM 2.5 at the census-block level, finding pollution concentrations correlate with lower income and education levels. Permitted totals would far exceed any other regional source.
Localized Air Pollution Impacts from Data Centers in Northern Virginia
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Damian Pitt, Ivan Suen, Ellie Plisko
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VCU Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment
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Published date:
January 1, 2026
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