STAFFORD, VA—The first data center to pass Dominion Virginia Power's Data Center Site Certification Program in Stafford County has opened in the Quantico Corporate Center.

The 12.5-acre site now has the chops to compete for the most rigorous data center operations, local officials say. "All the factors necessary to ensure successful site development are in place: reliable electric infrastructure and low rates, proximity to large capacity water and sewer service, transportation and access to a robust fiber-optic network," said Stafford County Administrator Anthony J. Romanello.

Companies that helped push the certification across the finish line included SummitIG and the Timmons Group, he said, as well as Quantico Corporate Center's developer Silver Cos., with which the County partnered. SummitIG is a bandwidth infrastructure provider. The Timmons Group is Dominion's third-party engineering partner, which performed the field analysis.

Dominion's Data Center Program evaluates more than 30 factors, ranging from topography and geology to available fiber, utilities, transportation networks and risk factors such as flooding and storms.

The power company has certified sites throughout the Commonwealth including in the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Henrico, Mecklenburg, and Alleghany. Sixty-five data centers, occupying more than 6 million square feet are already located within Dominion's service territory.