Data center profile · Nalles Mill Road, Culpeper Technology Zone, Culpeper County, Virginia

EdgeCore Culpeper Campus

EdgeCore's 216 MW (up to 432 MW) campus on 120 acres in Culpeper, Virginia, rezoned in 2023 for Cielo and bought by EdgeCore in 2024, with power from Rappahannock Electric

Entitled, work reported. The county rezoned the site in Dec. 2023 and EdgeCore bought it in July 2024; power is expected in early 2028. A press report from April 2026 says construction has begun, but no building permit or imagery confirms it, and no tenant is announced.
216 MW
initial critical IT capacity
EdgeCore says; up to 432 MW possible
1.4M sq ft
planned campus
three buildings per the 2023 approval; 120 acres
Early 2028
initial power delivery
through Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
$18.75M
land price Cielo paid in May 2023 (press)
EdgeCore's price was not disclosed
OperatorEdgeCore Digital Infrastructure (owned by Partners Group)
CustomerNone announced; designed for a single hyperscale tenant
Planned IT capacity432 MW at full build-out (our estimate from the company or utility power figure)
First building in serviceOur estimate: 2029 or later (no dated power path yet); company says 2028.
Next deadlineFeb. 2028: Initial power delivery from Rappahannock Electric expected in early 2028 (company says)
Power

Power and the grid

None energized or contracted yet

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (grid, PJM)Tariff pending; no public service agreement
216 MW
EdgeCore says 216 MW initial IT capacity, up to 432 MW; the utility load is not published Company · July 2024
Proposed

Getting on the grid

Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.

  1. Dec. 13, 2023
    On-site substation approved with the rezoning
    The 2023 plan includes an on-site utility substation and large backup generators (backup only, not supply). News report · Dec. 2023
  2. March 12, 2025
    Co-op asks state regulator for a large-load tariff
    Rappahannock Electric files Schedule LP-DF, the rate framework for dedicated-facility loads like this one. Utility regulator · June 2025
  3. July 1, 2025
    Tariff in effect on an interim basis
    The commission let LP-DF take effect subject to refund, then paused the case for settlement talks in June 2025. see Permits
  4. Not set
    Campus service agreement not public
    Only the tariff case is public; no agreement for this campus has been found. Analysis · Oct. 2026
Permits

Permits checklist

1 pending · 1 granted · 2 checked, nothing on file

Approvals a campus like this normally needs, and what we found.

Risks

What could slow it down

Money

Money on record

$5.4B
Cielo's stated investment, 2023 plan
press figure; EdgeCore has not restated it News report · Jan. 2024
$18.75M
land bought by Cielo, May 2023
press; EdgeCore price not disclosed Company · July 2024
Timeline

What happened, and what is due

SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
  1. March 7, 2023
    Paper trail Cielo Digital Infrastructure LLC registered in Delaware
  2. May 2023
    Money Cielo buys four parcels on Nalles Mill Road for a reported $18.75 million News report · July 2024
  3. Oct. 2023
    Permits County planning commission tables the Cielo proposal for 60 days News report · Oct. 2023
  4. Dec. 5, 2023
    Permits Board of Supervisors approves the rezoning 5-2 News report · Dec. 2023
  5. July 18, 2024
    Paper trail EdgeCore announces its purchase of the entitled 120-acre site Company · July 2024
  6. March 12, 2025
    Power Rappahannock Electric files its large-load tariff with the state regulator Utility regulator · June 2025
  7. Sept. 2, 2025
    Permits County requires conditional use permits for data centers outside the Technology Zone; this campus is not affected News report · Sept. 2025
  8. April 22, 2026
    Construction A press report says construction has begun at EdgeCore's Virginia campuses News report · April 2026
  9. Feb. 2028
    Power Initial power delivery expected (company says) Company · July 2024
The buildings

Specs

120 acres
inside the Culpeper Technology Zone
Company · July 2024
216 to 432 MW
IT capacity, in two phases (EdgeCore says)
Company · July 2024
Up to 40%
tax rebate for 5 years under the county's Technology Zone program
Local government · Oct. 2026
Who is involved

Owners, partners and builders

Owners
  • EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure: developer and operator; owned by Partners Group
  • Cielo Digital Infrastructure: original developer, owned by Arroyo Investors; sold the site
Decision-makers
  • Culpeper County Board of Supervisors: rezoning
  • Virginia State Corporation Commission: sets the co-op's rates
Power
  • Rappahannock Electric Cooperative: retail utility; Hyperscale Energy Services buys PJM power for data centers
Opponents
  • Piedmont Environmental Council (Save Culpeper)
Still unknown

Open questions

Where this comes from

107 records from 18 documents

Drawn from news reports, company statements, local government records, business registries, our own analysis, utility regulator dockets and public and commercial datasets, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.

News report 11Company 3Local government 3Analysis 3Utility regulator 1Dataset 1
Evidence

Every quote behind this page

Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.

Power (26)
  • Rate class: Schedule LP-DF - Large Power Dedicated Facilities (Rappahannock Electric Cooperative)
    “for approval to implement its proposed Large Power Dedicated Facilities Schedule LP-DF”
    Utility regulator · June 2025 · grade A
  • utility rate schedule: petition filed
    “On March 12, 2025, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative filed a petition with the State Corporation Commission for approval to implement its proposed Large Power Dedicated Facilities Schedule LP-DF”
    Utility regulator · June 2025 · grade A
  • utility rate schedule: order granting stay
    “This matter is temporarily stayed, including a temporary pause in formal discovery, through July 11, 2025.”
    Utility regulator · June 2025 · grade A
  • Stated campus size: 216 MW
    “plans to develop a 1.4 million square foot data center campus capable of initially supporting 216 MW of critical IT load with the potential to support up to 432 MW”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Stated campus size: 432 MW
    “plans to develop a 1.4 million square foot data center campus capable of initially supporting 216 MW of critical IT load with the potential to support up to 432 MW”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Utility: Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
    “Initial power delivery is expected in early 2028 through Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Site acres: 120 acres
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia and plans to develop a 1.4 million square foot data center campus capable of initially supporting 216MW of critical IT load”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • IT capacity: 216 MW
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia and plans to develop a 1.4 million square foot data center campus capable of initially supporting 216MW of critical IT load”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Developer: EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia and plans to develop a 1.4 million square foot data center campus capable of initially supporting 216MW of critical IT load”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Floor area: 1400000 sq ft
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia and plans to develop a 1.4 million square foot data center campus capable of initially supporting 216MW of critical IT load”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • IT capacity: 216 MW
    “capable of initially supporting 216MW of critical IT load with the potential to support up to 432MW”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Stated campus size: 432 MW
    “capable of initially supporting 216MW of critical IT load with the potential to support up to 432MW”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Utility: Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
    “Initial power delivery is expected in early 2028 through Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Power plan: grid
    “Initial power delivery is expected in early 2028 through Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Cooling: closed-loop air-cooled
    “the company will employ a close-looped air-cooled system in Culpeper that uses very little water to cool its facilities”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Phases: 2 (initial 216 MW IT capacity; expansion potential to 432 MW)
    “capable of initially supporting 216MW of critical IT load with the potential to support up to 432MW”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Original target date: 2028
    “Initial power delivery is expected in early 2028 through Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • EdgeCore states the campus can support up to 432 MW at full potential, double the initial 216 MW critical IT capacity
    “plans to develop a 1.4 million square foot data center campus capable of initially supporting 216MW of critical IT load with the potential to support up to 432MW”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Utility service: not stated
    “For approval to implement a new Large Power Dedicated Facilities Rate Schedule”
    Analysis · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Electric service agreement signed: not stated
    “On March 12, 2025, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative filed a petition with the State Corporation Commission”
    Analysis · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Grid operator: PJM
    “To serve data centers, REC created Hyperscale Energy Services (HES), which separately procures the significant amounts of electricity they require through the PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) wholesale energy market.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • REC CEO John Hewa: REC has energized 900 MW of new data-center substation capacity across its territory since January 2026, and data-center wholesale supply is kept separate from the general membership via Hyperscale Ene
    “Since January of this year, REC has energized 900 megawatts of new data center substation capacity.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Current target date: 2028
    “Initial power delivery through Rappahannock Electric Cooperative was expected in early 2028.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • On-site generation: not stated
    “The development will also have an on-site REC substation and large backup generators.”
    Analysis · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • Substation: On-site REC substation (unnamed)
    “The development will also have an on-site REC substation and large backup generators.”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • Buildings: 3 buildings
    “the data center will spread across three buildings: two 96MW data centers and one 48MW data center”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
Money and contracts (25)
  • electric service tariff: scope
    “On March 12, 2025, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative filed a petition with the State Corporation Commission for approval to implement its proposed Large Power Dedicated Facilities Schedule LP-DF”
    Utility regulator · June 2025 · grade A
  • electric service tariff: term / effectiveness
    “On April 4, 2025, the Commission issued an Order for Notice and Comment (Procedural Order) setting a procedural schedule for this proceeding.”
    Utility regulator · June 2025 · grade A
  • Tenant status: none announced (speculative; designed for a single hyperscale tenant)
    “all of which have been designed to accommodate data center campuses for single hyperscale tenants”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Incentives: Culpeper Technology Zone by-right program: up to 40% of taxes paid rebated over 5 years for qualifying companies
    “Qualified technology zone companies are eligible for up to 40% of taxes paid over a five year period when making a new $10 million taxable investment and hiring 10 employees in a calendar year.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • electric service tariff: minimum bill
    “For data centers, their monthly charges are based on the size (capacity) of the dedicated infrastructure built to serve them, not simply the amount of energy or electric demand they use in a given month.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • electric service tariff: up-front cost contribution 100 %
    “these large load members cover 100% of the initial construction cost of their dedicated infrastructure (paid up-front)”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • incentive program: scope 40 % of taxes paid
    “Qualified technology zone companies are eligible for up to 40% of taxes paid over a five year period when making a new $10 million taxable investment and hiring 10 employees in a calendar year.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • incentive program: conditions (qualification) 10000000 USD minimum new taxable investment
    “when making a new $10 million taxable investment and hiring 10 employees in a calendar year. Employees must earn above the prevailing average wage.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • incentive program: term 5 years
    “including up to 40% tax relief over five years for companies investing $10 million or more and creating 10 jobs at or above the average wage”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • incentive program: clawback - NONE STATED (finding)
    “Qualified technology zone companies are eligible for up to 40% of taxes paid over a five year period when making a new $10 million taxable investment and hiring 10 employees in a calendar year.”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Square feet: 1400000 sq ft
    “plans to develop a 1.4 million square foot data center campus”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • land purchase: scope
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • land purchase: price - NOT DISCLOSED (finding)
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Tenants: not stated
    “all of which have been designed to accommodate data center campuses for single hyperscale tenants”
    Analysis · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • rezoning / entitlement: conditions / proffers - NOT RETRIEVABLE (finding)
    “Board documents suggests that the data center will spread across three buildings: two 96MW data centers and one 48MW data center.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • electric service agreement: termination - NOT PUBLIC (finding)
    “For approval to implement a new Large Power Dedicated Facilities Rate Schedule”
    Analysis · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • electric service agreement: collateral
    “Those protections may include upfront infrastructure payments, collateral and obligations established through their service agreements.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • It is not Culpeper financing and no part of it is booked to this campus; the same Virginia Business article is the source for construction work having begun at Culpeper
    “Denver-based data center developer EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure secured $1.5 billion in financing toward building two data centers in Sterling, it announced Tuesday.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • EdgeCore announced a $17B, 3.9M sq ft campus on 697 acres in Louisa County, VA - a separate campus; none of its figures are booked here. Together with Ashburn/Sterling it frames the sponsor's Virginia build-out
    “EdgeCore announced in June 2025 it had purchased 697 acres in Louisa County to build a $17 billion, 3.9 million-square-foot data center campus.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Land price: 18750000 USD
    “Cielo reportedly purchased the four Nalles Mill Road parcels in May 2023 for $18.75 million from two owners”
    News report · July 2024 · grade C
  • land purchase: scope 18750000 USD
    “Cielo reportedly purchased the four Nalles Mill Road parcels in May 2023 for $18.75 million from two owners”
    News report · July 2024 · grade C
  • Stated capital cost: 5400000000 USD
    “approved plans for Cielo Digital Infrastructure to construct a $5.4 billion data center”
    News report · Jan. 2024 · grade C
  • rezoning / entitlement: scope
    “The County also voted in favor of rezoning the land from Rural Area to Light Industrial.”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • rezoning / entitlement: conditions (as reported)
    “Among those against the project is Jefferson District Supervisor Brad Rosenberger, due to concerns that Cielo did not state how big the fuel tanks would need to be for the generators.”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • Cielo purchased the four Nalles Mill Road parcels in May 2023 for $18.75 million; EdgeCore later acquired the approved Cielo campus
    “Cielo reportedly purchased the four Nalles Mill Road parcels in May 2023 for $18.75 million from two owners; the Fishbach family and Kenneth Dowder/Eastern View.”
    News report · May 2023 · grade C
Permits and government (10)
  • Piedmont Environmental Council's Save Culpeper - Stop Data Center Sprawl campaign tracks this campus as 'Cielo (Edgecore)' among nine approved/proposed Culpeper projects (PEC's own load estimates, all campuses). No litig
    “Cielo (Edgecore) | Approved - 2023 | 122 | 2,400,000 | 300”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Culpeper County zoning text amendment: new data centers on industrially zoned land OUTSIDE the Culpeper Tech Zone now require a conditional use permit (previously by-right). This campus - inside the CTZ, rezoned in 2023
    “On Sept. 2, the Culpeper Board of Supervisors passed a zoning text amendment requiring a conditional use permit for all new data centers on industrially zoned land outside the Culpeper Tech Zone.”
    News report · Sept. 2025 · grade C
  • Culpeper County Board of Supervisors: Zoning text amendment - conditional use permit required for new data centers on industrially zoned land outside the Culpeper Tech Zone
    “On Sept. 2, the Culpeper Board of Supervisors passed a zoning text amendment requiring a conditional use permit for all new data centers on industrially zoned land outside the Culpeper Tech Zone.”
    News report · Sept. 2025 · grade C
  • Opposition: Piedmont Environmental Council opposition (Save Culpeper campaign); generator fuel-storage disclosure concerns raised at approval
    “Among those against the project is Jefferson District Supervisor Brad Rosenberger, due to concerns that Cielo did not state how big the fuel tanks would need to be for the generators.”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • rezoning: approved
    “The Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 in favor.”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • Rezoning date: Dec. 5, 2023
    “On Dec. 5, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors voted to approve Cielo Digital Infrastructure, a 300-megawatt data center proposal with three, two-story buildings on Nalles Mill Road”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • Data center campus approval: Approval
    “On Dec. 5, the Culpeper County Board of Supervisors voted to approve Cielo Digital Infrastructure, a 300-megawatt data center proposal with three, two-story buildings on Nalles Mill Road”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • Culpeper County Board of Supervisors: Rezoning Z-459-23-1 (Rural Area to Light Industrial) - Cielo 3-building campus, Nalles Mill Road
    “The Board of Supervisors voted 5-2 in favor.”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • Data center campus application: Recommendation for approval
    “On Nov. 9, the Culpeper County Planning Commission voted to forward Cielo Digital Infrastructure to the Culpeper Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for approval.”
    News report · Nov. 2023 · grade C
  • Culpeper County Planning Commission: Cielo Digital Infrastructure data center proposal, Nalles Mill Road (Case Z-459-23-1)
    “the Culpeper County Planning Commission held a hearing on this proposal and ultimately decided to table the application for 60 days”
    News report · Oct. 2023 · grade C
Site and other (16)
  • County code: Culpeper County, VA (51047)
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Minimum bill terms: Monthly charges based on the capacity of dedicated infrastructure built to serve the customer, regardless of energy used; customer pays 100% of the initial construction cost of dedicated infrastructur
    “these large load members cover 100% of the initial construction cost of their dedicated infrastructure (paid up-front)”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Stage: building
    “EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure is building a 1.4-million-square-foot data center campus within the CTZ, capable of supporting up to 216 megawatts of critical IT load”
    Local government · Feb. 2025 · grade B
  • County name: Culpeper County, VA
    “We look forward to helping generate economic growth and jobs for Culpeper County while remaining mindful of topics that are important to the community”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Name: EdgeCore Culpeper Campus
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Developer: EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure
    “EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure, a wholesale data center developer, owner, and operator”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Acres: 120 acres
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Water use stated: WUE below 0.01 L/kWh (benchmark)
    “carrying a benchmark water usage effectiveness (WUE) rating below .01 L/kWh”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Announced: July 18, 2024
    “announced the purchase of 120 acres of land in the Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) in Culpeper, Virginia”
    Company · July 2024 · grade B
  • Owner companies: EdgeCore Internet Real Estate, LLC
    “announced the formation of EdgeCore Internet Real Estate, LLC (the Company), an investment vehicle with fully integrated operational capabilities formed to develop, acquire, and operate data centers across North America”
    Company · Feb. 2018 · grade B
  • Project status: clearing - construction work begun
    “Construction work has begun at both campuses.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Construction stage: clearing
    “Construction work has begun at both campuses.”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • County code: 51047
    “Data center firm EdgeCore is expanding in Virginia again with plans for a new campus in Culpeper County.”
    News report · July 2024 · grade C
  • Aliases: Culpeper Technology Zone (CTZ) campus, Nalles Mill Road; formerly the Cielo Digital Infrastructure campus
    “The Culpeper Star-Exponent reports Edgecore acquired Cielo's planned campus in Culpeper.”
    News report · July 2024 · grade C
  • Address: Nalles Mill Road, Culpeper, VA (Culpeper Technology Zone)
    “Cielo Digital Infrastructure is set to develop a 1.4 million sq ft (130,065 sqm) data center on a 121-acre parcel along Nalles Mill Road”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C
  • Site location: Nalles Mill Road, Culpeper Technology Zone, Culpeper, VA
    “In late 2023, Cielo Digital Infrastructure was granted permission to develop a 1.4 million sq ft (130,065 sqm) data center campus on a 121-acre parcel along Nalles Mill Road.”
    News report · Dec. 2023 · grade C