Henricoans among nearly 200 at Capitol Bell Tower rally demanding Virginia leaders rein in data center growth
Nearly 200 residents from Henrico, Hanover, and neighboring counties rallied at the Virginia State Capitol to demand state leaders address unchecked data center growth, rising electricity bills, and pollution. Advocacy groups called for transparency in permitting, community input in rezoning, and investments from tech companies in affected neighborhoods. Residents highlighted successful opposition efforts that scaled back a rezoning proposal and canceled a large data center facility in Henrico County.
A rally titled "Enough Is Enough" brought nearly 200 residents from Henrico, Hanover, and surrounding counties to Richmond's Virginia State Capitol Square. Protesters expressed deep concerns to state leaders about surging electricity bills, environmental degradation, and the uncontrolled expansion of data centers, arguing these issues have pushed their communities past their limits. Speakers at the event urged Governor Abigail Spanberger's administration and the Virginia General Assembly to implement protective measures for families before further data center development occurs.
Monica Hutchinson, president of the Henrico County NAACP, outlined the "Stop Dirty Data Centers" campaign, which advocates for complete transparency in the permitting process, an end to rezoning decisions made without community input, and legally binding agreements requiring tech companies to invest directly in the neighborhoods where they build. The campaign also demands that data center operators bear the cost of grid upgrades, use their own clean energy sources, and be prohibited from building on protected lands. Hutchinson emphasized the broader environmental justice implications, noting the historical burden of pollution on Black communities.
Beatrix Jackson, a Varina resident and member of the Henrico County Public Schools Equity and Diversity Advisory Committee, shared her personal journey into local zoning activism, prompted by a proposed data center off Darbytown Road. Jackson is an active participant in the "Say No" grassroots campaign, which residents credit with successfully scaling back a rezoning proposal and ultimately canceling a planned 1 million-square-foot data center in Henrico County. She stressed the importance of evaluating the cumulative impact of data center infrastructure, including associated roads, substations, noise, and light pollution, rather than assessing projects in isolation. Jackson called for the implementation of green buffer standards, independent traffic and infrastructure studies, and community benefit agreements that detail facility ownership, profit-sharing, and long-term accountability.
Both Hutchinson and Jackson highlighted the financial strain already placed on residents and public institutions, citing a 25% electricity rate increase for Henrico County government and schools, leading to calls for energy conservation among county employees. Their observations align with a February 2026 study from George Mason University, which estimated Virginia data centers consume 5,050 megawatts and account for 21% of Dominion Energy’s total sales, a share projected to double by 2040. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission also predicted that rising data center demand could add $14 to $33 to typical residential electric bills monthly by 2040, recommending a dedicated rate class for data centers to prevent these costs from burdening households and public institutions.