What happens when ordinary people take on one of the most powerful industries in the world… and win?

This is the untold story of the Digital Gateway in Prince William County—a project that would have become the largest data center complex on the planet. Backed by massive money, powerful interests, and behind-the-scenes deals, it seemed unstoppable.

Until the community fought back.

In this podcast, we break down how it all began, how it gained momentum, and how a group of determined residents organized, exposed what was really happening, and challenged a system stacked against them.

We’ll dive into:

Allegations of corruption and backroom influence

The role of money and power in shaping local decisions

The strategies that turned the tide

And how a modern-day David stood up to Goliath—and prevailed

This isn’t just a local story. It’s a blueprint for what happens when people refuse to be ignored.

#GoliathHasFallen

A new mega AI data center, “Cosmos”, has just been filed in Catharpin, Virginia, and it’s unlike anything the region has seen. Think gas turbines, sprawling power lines, and diesel generators—all proposed next to homes and a national park.

In Episode 8 of Audacious NIMBY, we dive into what may become the defining land use battle of the year.

This episode covers the major coalition event hosted by Audacious NIMBY, alongside the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, PWCA, and CABSA, as well as the swearing-in ceremony of Supervisor Lacroix in the Woodbridge District—a moment signaling that political winds are shifting.

🔥 Prince William County is now ground zero for data center sprawl.

⚡ Communities are organizing—and pushing back.

🏛️ New leadership may change everything.

Is “Cosmos” the future of AI infrastructure… or the tipping point for a community fight?

🔥 New Episode: Audacious NIMBY 🔥

We cannot say no to any development… apparently.

In our most explosive episode yet, we break down last week’s Prince William County Board of Supervisors meeting — and this one had everything:

⚡ Drama

⚡ Visions being declared

⚡ A flag firmly planted

⚡ Condescending comments from board members

⚡ The “King of Yes” officially crowned

And if that wasn’t enough… the Woodbridge election just made national news.

If you enjoy political drama, big personalities, and the kind of moments that only happen in Prince William County, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

🎙️ Tune in and stay audacious.

#AudaciousNIMBY #PrinceWilliamCounty #LocalPolitics #NIMBY #northernvirginia

Also Join us Monday at Sweeney Barn for a community meeting: https://audaciousnimby.com/event-16-march-2026-community-conversation-where-are-we-headed/

In Prince William County, something unusual is happening. Large-scale land assemblages are taking place across thousands of acres in the western part of the county. Assemblages are typically when developers combine multiple properties into one large tract for development. But what’s raising eyebrows here is who is organizing them.

In many cases, current or former politicians are involved in offering contracts to homeowners, with offers reportedly reaching $500,000 per acre to sell their land. The goal? Bulldozing existing homes and rural properties to make way for large housing developments or data centers.

This isn’t traditional redevelopment of existing urban areas. Instead, it’s the potential transformation of vast rural landscapes into large-scale development projects. In this episode, we discuss what these assemblages mean for western Prince William County, why they’re happening now, and what the long-term implications could be for residents, landowners, and the future of the region.

In Episode 5, we welcome our first guest, Elena Schlossberg of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County, for an in-depth conversation about the future of PWC.

We discuss the issues shaping our community right now, including data centers, the Digital Gateway proposal, rural land protection, water resources, and what responsible growth should really look like. This episode explores what is at stake, who is making decisions, and how residents can stay informed and involved.

We also talk about our upcoming March 16 event and why it matters.

If you care about the future of Prince William County, its land, its water, and its identity, this is a conversation you do not want to miss.

The election of Margaret Franklin to Virginia’s House District 23 has created a rare and fleeting opportunity in Prince William County. For the first time in a long time, the Board of County Supervisors now holds a majority that ran on stopping sprawl, including data centers, endless housing creep, and the quiet erosion of open space.
That window will not stay open long.
With an unexpected vacancy on the Board and roughly two months to act, this is the moment for bold, unapologetic governance. In this episode, I lay out what smashmouth politics actually looks like, real policy options the Board could pass right now to halt data center sprawl, slow reckless growth, protect open space, and shift investment back into existing communities instead of sacrificing them to short term speculation.
No hedging. No half measures. Just the hard decisions required to change the trajectory of Prince William County before the opportunity disappears.

Prince William County, you are a special place.
Western Prince William is a historically significant area with strong, connected communities.
In this episode, we remind everyone why this place matters. We cannot accept any development simply because it is proposed. We must be selective and decisive about what our community becomes.
Now is the moment to decide. Are we willing to bulldoze homes and history to build data centers and dense housing, or will we choose thoughtful, responsible development over sprawl?
We will discuss the history of our area, what makes it special, and why caring for our own backyard still matters.
(Small corrections, industrial school was on Pageland lane, not Featherbed, and Judith Carter Henry not mill was civilian in Manassas Battle.)

Thank you for joining the Audacious Nimby cause. My name is Patrick Harders. Our mission is to protect our area from reckless data center sprawl and housing sprawl. We want to see smart growth and preservation. The Digital Gateway and "Cosmos, the first and second largest data centers, threaten to destroy our community. Join me and our community as we continue to fight back!