Residents rely on Freedom of Information Act requests to fight data centers
Residents across Virginia are increasingly utilizing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to uncover and oppose proposed data center developments due to perceived lack of government transparency. In Franklin County, FOIA requests by residents led to the discovery and eventual cancellation of "Project Flash," a proposed data center. Similar efforts are underway in Roanoke County to monitor potential data center deals.
Residents across Virginia are leveraging Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to combat what they describe as a lack of transparency from local governments regarding data center developments. Laura Carter, a Franklin County resident, initiated FOIA requests concerning the county's zoning ordinance update and subsequently uncovered details about "Project Flash," a proposed data center for Summit View Business Park near Rocky Mount. Her discovery ignited community opposition, leading to the project's cancellation by mid-August.
Christine Sizemore, co-chair of the Franklin County Community Coalition, emphasized that without these FOIA requests, the project would have remained hidden. Similarly, in Roanoke County, the Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance, co-founded by Ben Verschoor, used FOIA to track a potential data center deal for Wood Haven Technology Park that ultimately fell through. Verschoor highlighted that such transparency is crucial, warning that without it, residents face situations like Botetourt County, where Google will build a large data center after a deal was made behind closed doors, making it difficult for residents to intervene.