Daily Digest — August 27, 2026
Chesterfield County Closes Door on New Data Centers, Weighs Car Tax Cut
Chesterfield County, Virginia, has declared it will not approve any new data center projects beyond those already in the pipeline. According to WTVR CBS 6 and Richmond BizSense, the Board of Supervisors amended the zoning ordinance to require conditional use permits and public hearings for any new data center development, eliminating the ability to build by right. Deputy County Administrator Jesse Smith stated that staff would not recommend new proposals, citing a lack of appetite from the board amid increasing public opposition.
Three previously approved Google data center campus projects — Project Peanut, Project Skye, and Project Loch — will proceed as planned, with the first building expected to become operational in late 2027. Google's investment is anticipated to reach $9 billion at full buildout, with individual buildings estimated at $300–$500 million each, as reported by WTVR.
According to WWBT, the three Google campuses could contribute $2.7 billion in real estate value and generate over $10 million annually per campus. The Board of Supervisors considered an ordinance to nearly halve the car tax rate from $3.25 to $1.79 per $100 of assessed value using projected data center revenue, but deferred the vote to September 23. The county is also considering raising the special tax rate on data center equipment. Residents continue to raise concerns about water and electricity consumption, with county officials referring energy questions to Dominion and air quality questions to state regulators.
Chesterfield County Halts New Data Center Proposals, Google Projects Move Forward
WTVR CBS 6
Chesterfield says it won’t approve any more data center projects
Richmond BizSense
Chesterfield County halts new data centers and weighs cutting car tax rate nearly in half
WTVR.com
Chesterfield leaders detail financial impact of Google data center projects
WWBT
Bipartisan Opposition to Data Centers Grows Across Multiple States
According to The Vindicator, bipartisan opposition to data center development is intensifying across the country, with rural eastern Nebraska and New Mexico serving as flashpoints. In Cass County, Nebraska, officials enacted a 12-month moratorium on data center development, affecting potential projects from Tenaska and CyrusOne. Conservative farmers and environmental groups have united over concerns about farmland loss, declining water supplies, and rising electricity costs.
In New Mexico, Oracle's $165 billion Project Jupiter faces a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity over water rights. The state Supreme Court granted an injunction to halt authorization for well drilling to supply water for the project pending the legal outcome. As timesdaily.com also reported, a protest against Project Jupiter took place in Santa Fe on August 21.
The article notes that political figures across parties are responding to shifting public sentiment:
- Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered a one-year ban on large data centers
- Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a halt on new data center approvals to assess grid impact
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro altered permitting priorities
Spartanburg County Board of Zoning Appeals Unanimously Rejects Data Center Proposal
The Spartanburg County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied Lighthouse Data Centers' proposal for a 200,000 sq ft, 60-megawatt data center campus at 300 Jones Road for a second and final time, according to WSPA 7News. The initial application, submitted April 28, was denied June 26 by the county's Planning and Development Commission due to five items non-compliant with the Unified Land Management ordinance and a data center moratorium introduced by County Council.
As WSPA also reported, a representative for Lighthouse Data Centers argued that the moratorium should not apply as new grounds for denial on a previously submitted application, stating the county's changed stance jeopardized over $28 million in developer investment. County staff maintained that the initial denial was final and any resubmission constituted a new application subject to the moratorium. Residents applauded the decision and voiced a desire for more permanent measures, including opposition to the separate, ongoing Valara data center project.
Massena Residents and Tribal Members Intensify Opposition to Data Center Expansion
Over 100 people attended recent Town Hall and Planning Board meetings in Massena, New York, to oppose proposed data center developments, including an expansion by NYDIG subsidiary North Country Collocation Services, according to North Country Now. Opponents delivered a petition with over 450 signatures calling for a three-year local moratorium on data center construction. The Mohawks United in Safety and Health group raised environmental concerns citing potential impacts on the St. Lawrence River and tribal lands.
NYDIG officials presented an updated site plan stating their facilities would use a closed-loop cooling system and deposited $100,000 into escrow to cover independent environmental review costs. The Planning Board took no official action and deferred public comment to a future meeting. The proposed expansion is currently on hold due to New York's statewide one-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development.
EPA Moves to Repeal Public Comment Requirement for Air Pollution Permits
The EPA is planning to repeal a federal rule requiring states to publicize and solicit public comments on air pollution permit applications for industrial facilities, including data centers and associated power plants, according to Heatmap News. The proposed change, originating from the Trump administration, could reduce the ability of residents to raise concerns or learn about data center projects before permits are approved. Heatmap Pro polling indicates three-quarters of Americans now oppose data centers built near their homes.
Pataskala City Council Unanimously Rejects 200-Megawatt Data Center Proposal
The Pataskala, Ohio, City Council unanimously rejected Aligned Data Centers' proposal for a 200-megawatt data center in the city's industrial park, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The decision followed a nearly four-hour hearing where dozens of residents cited concerns about impacts on green spaces, noise, heat, and community character. Aligned had reduced the project from four facilities to three in response to earlier criticism and proposed mitigation measures including sound barriers, landscaping, and closed-loop cooling.
As WSYX reported, the issue will also go before voters in November. Residents gathered over 500 signatures to place a charter amendment on the ballot that would ban data centers larger than 25 megawatts. Aligned Data Centers had projected $34 million in annual property tax revenue and over 100 permanent jobs from the project.
