
Virginia’s Manassas battlefield, where Civil War soldiers once clashed, fought, spilled sweat and blood, is now ground zero for a new war of AI ethics and governance, where data centers colonize sacred land, igniting another fierce battle over history, energy, tech governance.
On the green hills of Manassas, where Union troops defended against Confederate forces in the Civil War’s first major battle, this time, the battle isn’t between armies, it’s the battle royale against AI, by locals.
“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 re-enactor. “But do I recognise, since I worked in IT, that they’re necessary? Yeah, I can get that. So, there is no easy answer.”
Giants like QTS Date Centers are transforming Prince William County into a 37-building AI hub, inciting fury from historians and residents who have been warning of erased heritage and skyrocketing energy demands for a while now.
Manassas National Battlefield Park, which still consists of groups like the Bull Run Legion who preserve Civil War history through re-enactments, now faces transformation into one of the world’s largest AI safety governance hubs.
“Customer demand remains very strong, driven by the digitalization of the economy and AI revolution,” said QTS spokesperson, Karen Cohen.
And despite the empty promises of tax revenue and trails, which till now, are nothing but smoke and mirrors, critics decry $730 million in corporate subsidies and a rushed approval process sidelining historical and environmental fears.
“We are not anti-development,” said David Duncan, president of the American Battlefield Trust, whose organization is suing to halt the project. “We believe this should be an and conversation.”
Water, Power, Local Chaos, toward Building Trust in AI systems
The region hosts around 340 data centers, making Northern Virginia a global data center leader. But AI’s explosive growth demands even more. Dominion Energy projects the state’s power demand will double in 10 years – primarily from data centers – will little regard to oversight of AI ethical leaders influencing policies and regulations.
“This very reputable audit wing of the government says, ‘we have a big problem,’” said Ann Bennett of the Sierra Club, referring to a state report titled “Data Centers in Virginia” report published by Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) warns that data center expansion may raise energy costs and complicate Virginia’s clean energy goals.
“We’re subsidising these major companies with our energy, but also with our tax dollars,” stated Bennet.
Even though QTS says it will pay infrastructure costs to avoid rising electricity rates, Bennett calls it “unrealistic,” pointing to over $730 million in tax breaks the industry received in 2024. Despite reassurances from developers, critics remain skeptical regarding government AI procurement.
“Nobody wants to look into the forest and see these massive monoliths rising,” said re-enactor Jim Matte.
History Repeats Itself but with Tech and AI Sovereignty
More than 150 years ago, Manassas was a strategic rail hub, a center of logistical innovation and violence. Today, AI contracts are reshaping these same lands, demanding energy and real estate in volumes not seen before bringing a new war over history, progress, and AI ethics and governance.
While QTS plans to integrate “multi-purpose trails” and “historical landmarks” into the development, activists believe the deeper issue isn’t a lack of signage but a loss of soul.
“We’re in litigation because they took shortcuts,” Duncan said, referencing the controversial 27-hour town hall that approved the project. “When we clamp down on your ankle and don’t let go, you’re going to get sick of us.”
The Civil War may have ended in 1865, but in Virginia, the fight for the past rages at this time, at the edge of the AI ethics and governance, an unstoppable advance.
This land is your land; this land is my land…
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