Community Concerns & Safety

The Concern: Water usage is a topic worth understanding, and El Dorado is well positioned to address it.

What We Found:

• El Dorado has approximately 10 million gallons per day of industrial water capacity specifically earmarked for large industrial users — backed by El Dorado Reservoir and a direct contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Modern cooling systems increasingly use closed-loop designs that recirculate water, reducing the rate of fresh water consumption.
• Water discharged from the cooling loop is properly treated before release — similar to how a municipal wastewater treatment plant operates.
• Treated discharge can be safely released or made available for reuse in other industrial applications, minimizing waste.
• This infrastructure and capacity was designed with large industrial users in mind — not as an afterthought.

The Concern: Large HVAC systems and backup generators can produce noise, and that's a fair thing to ask about. For residents near a facility, this deserves a clear answer — not a dismissal.

What We Found:

• Cooling equipment runs 24/7 and produces ambient noise; modern acoustic engineering has made significant advances in reducing this.
• Generator testing (typically monthly) adds brief noise events, but these are scheduled and infrequent.
• Sound barriers, acoustic enclosures, and vegetation buffers are standard mitigation tools used at facilities nationwide.
• Thoughtful site selection — distance from residential areas — is the single most effective safeguard.
• Many communities near established data centers report the facilities are barely noticeable day-to-day.

The Concern: Large facilities maintain diesel generators as backup power. This is a reasonable thing to understand — and the answers are more reassuring than the concern might suggest.

What We Found:

• Backup generators exist for emergencies and scheduled monthly tests — they are not running continuously.
• Generators must meet EPA emission standards; permit requirements are enforceable by state regulators.
• Modern generator technology has improved significantly; tier-4 engines produce dramatically lower emissions than older models.
• Fuel storage is regulated under fire and environmental codes that are strictly enforced.
• Data centers operating in places like Ashburn, Virginia — surrounded by homes, schools, and businesses — have done so without measurable community air quality impacts for decades.

The Concern: Questions about battery fire safety are completely reasonable — and the industry has invested heavily in exactly this problem.

What We Found:

• NFPA 855 and UL 9540A set rigorous safety standards for battery systems — these are not optional guidelines but enforceable code requirements.
• Modern facilities include dedicated fire suppression systems designed specifically for battery fires, independent of municipal response.
• Data center operators work closely with local fire departments before opening — training and familiarization tours are standard practice.
• The industry's track record across thousands of facilities worldwide demonstrates that proper engineering controls work.
• Any development agreement should specify coordination with the local fire marshal and include funding for any needed training or equipment.

The Concern: Questions about facility appearance and property values are completely understandable. The evidence from communities that have lived alongside data centers for years is actually quite encouraging.

What We Found:

• Ashburn, Virginia — the data center capital of the world with 100–200 facilities — is one of the most desirable places to live in the country.
• A 2025 George Mason University study found homes near data centers in Northern Virginia sell at higher prices — attributed to the strong infrastructure data centers require, which benefits surrounding neighborhoods.
• Modern data centers are often built with landscaping, setbacks, and architectural standards that make them far less visually intrusive than other industrial uses.
• Lighting can be designed to be directional and shielded — this is a standard requirement in well-written development agreements.