Anyone here ever been to it? What’s it like? What’s it all for? Is there an ultimate plan aside from profit?
A lot of this started back in late 90’s. companies, specially those with big presence in DC area, started branches and DCs around richmond,VA, northern NC, etc. calling it research triangle.
proximity to DC was a factor, along with cheaper people,land, operational costs, etc.
i imagine this is just an extension ?
Yeh! According to the linked article
Into the mid-1990s, my high school was derisively called “Cornfield High” by rival schools. Now my hometown, Ashburn, is referred to as “Cashburn.” Loudoun County has the highest median household income in America, at $147,111. Much of that can be attributed to technology jobs.
The locals are not so cheap anymore.
That area has good fiber connectivity and cheap electricity prices.
And is very close to DC.
What is really amazing is that up to 70% of the world’s internet traffic is concentrated in one town.
Probably a total coincidence that the CIA headquarters is nearby 
First thoughts:
Not well thought through.
Electricity problem (why would electricity be cheap there as Phil_MCR says, if they’re having problems producing it already?)
Did not see any solar panels on the roofs of the centers (not solving the problem but helping). Did not read any attempts to produce electricity from the heat they produce (possible, worth developping).
The whole article sounds to me that those companies depend on the community producing the electricity for them.
An other thin that crossed my mind: Too concentrated/large. Wonderfully visible even from space. Easy to attack, crazy vunurable “with up to 70% of the world’s internet traffic is concentrated in one town.”
A thought Americans don’t seem to have, guess it’s been too long they actually had a war on their own soil?