Amazon has filed for permits to move forward with its Mattermeade data center project in Caroline County, Virginia. The campus, set to span 1,143 acres across both Caroline and Spotsylvania Counties, will feature 11 two-story data center buildings and one office building. This will be located directly southeast of the intersection of Interstate 95 and Mudd Tavern Road.

Amazon Data Services has applied for federal and state permits through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop the site, which will include access roads, a parking lot, dock areas, stormwater management facilities, and electrical infrastructure. The company plans to establish a capacity of at least 770 megawatts (MW) for the site by 2027, as part of Amazon’s ongoing effort to meet the growing demand for computing and data storage infrastructure.

The design will utilize Amazon's "standardized" data center layouts, which have already been employed across Virginia. The project will also feature substantial infrastructure investments, including substation pads and connections to electrical grids. Amazon's goal is to meet the increasing need for data storage in Virginia as part of its broader initiative to invest $35 billion in the state's data center development by 2040. The project aims to support Amazon’s broader vision of having a data center in each county between Northern Virginia and Richmond.

The construction will also have temporary power supplied from overhead power lines, with additional cooling water provided from Spotsylvania County's municipal water supply. However, some of the work will impact wetlands in the area. To offset this impact, Amazon is purchasing wetland credits and stream credits. Public comments on the project are being accepted until March 15, 2025.

Originally called the Orrock Tech Campus, Amazon had filed for rezoning of 158 acres off Orrock Road in 2023, joining 920 acres already in development. With the addition of the Mattermeade project, the company is further expanding its footprint in Virginia, particularly in data center development, alongside its ongoing projects in Northern Virginia, including Loudoun and Fairfax Counties, and efforts in Fauquier, Culpeper, King George, and Spotsylvania counties.

Additionally, CleanArc and Avaio are working on data center developments in Caroline County, further contributing to the region's growing data storage infrastructure.

This ongoing investment highlights Amazon's significant role in Virginia's economy and the demand for technological advancements in data storage, with the potential to create significant local employment opportunities and infrastructure growth.

Amazon's Mattermeade Data Center project is a part of the company's broader expansion in Virginia, with plans to enhance its capacity to meet the growing demand for cloud computing, data storage, and other digital infrastructure services. The campus is expected to significantly bolster the region's economy, providing job opportunities during both the construction and operational phases of the project.

The planned data center complex will be constructed with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring high energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. Amazon's approach to building and operating data centers aligns with their broader sustainability goals, aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and improve energy utilization efficiency. As part of its environmental commitment, Amazon is taking steps to offset the environmental impacts of the construction, including purchasing wetland and stream credits to mitigate the effects on local ecosystems.

Originally reported by Georgia Butler in Data Center Dynamics.