The hallowed grounds of Manassas, Virginia, where the first major battle of the American Civil War was fought, are now at the centre of a modern-day conflict — one between heritage conservation and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Plans are under way to construct what could become the largest data centre development in the world—the 37-building Prince William Digital Gateway—on land adjacent to the Manassas National Battlefield Park. The project is part of a surge in data centre growth across Northern Virginia, already the global hub of internet infrastructure. But critics argue it comes at a steep cost to history, the environment, and local communities.
“Do I want to see a data centre on the view line of this park? No, I do not,” said Bart Wheeler, a Civil War reenactor and IT professional. “But do I recognise that they’re necessary? Yeah. So there is no easy answer.”
On July 21, 1861, Union and Confederate forces clashed here during the First Battle of Bull Run. Today, the same hills are dotted with tourists capturing cannon blasts on their smartphones—devices whose data may one day be routed through servers built just yards away.
Proponents of the development, including data centre company QTS, insist they are committed to historical sensitivity. Plans reportedly include informational kiosks and walking trails to honour the area’s legacy. “Customer demand remains very strong, driven by the digitalisation of the economy and the AI revolution,” said QTS spokesperson Karen Cohen.
Yet opposition is mounting. A coalition of local residents, historians, and environmental groups argue that the massive project threatens not only the area’s historical integrity but also its ecosystems and public resources. The Sierra Club estimates the number of data centres in Virginia could surge from 340 today to over 1,500 in the coming years. Energy supplier Dominion Power anticipates that the state’s data centre energy demand will quadruple within the next decade.
Globally, data centres consumed 1.5% of all energy in 2024, with that figure expected to double by 2030—surpassing Japan’s current national usage. With AI accelerating demand, some proposals have even floated the idea of lunar data centres and nuclear-powered server hubs.
The symbolic clash at Manassas reflects a broader challenge faced worldwide: balancing the needs of a growing digital economy with environmental sustainability and cultural preservation. As the AI age races forward, the quiet fields of a once-bloodied battlefield are again on the front lines—this time in a struggle to define the future of progress.
