Some families near the Fairfax County-Alexandria border could soon live less than 100 feet from a massive new power substation, and they never got a real say in the project that made it necessary.

The Plaza 500 data center, planned as two 75-foot buildings, is moving forward under existing zoning rules that skip the usual public approval process. Now Dominion Energy wants to build a five-acre substation to power it, and this is the community's one and only chance for a public hearing and vote.

Neighbors, organized through groups like Save Bren Mar, have opposed the data center for four years, arguing the site should become housing or mixed-use space instead of more industrial infrastructure. They are no longer alone. Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez, U.S. Representative Don Beyer, and Alexandria's mayor and city council have all urged Fairfax County to reject the substation application.

"Our community supports a reliable electric grid, but reliability and thoughtful planning are not mutually exclusive," Jimenez wrote, according to a report by Jacqueline Quynh.

Everyone agrees the region needs dependable power. But dependable power and responsible placement are not opposites. Building a substation this close to family homes and neighborhoods is not the only option, and residents deserve a real voice before Fairfax County locks in a decision that will shape their community for decades.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission holds a public hearing on September 24, 2026, before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors makes a final call. Sign the petition now to demand Fairfax County deny the substation application before this becomes a decision with no way back.