FOIA Requests Reveal Potential Franklin County Data Center
FOIA requests submitted by Laura Carter have uncovered details suggesting a potential data center project, codenamed "Project Flash," is being considered for Summit View Business Park in Franklin County, Virginia. These requests revealed meetings between Franklin County leaders and representatives from Crusoe AI. The discovery has raised public concerns about the project's potential impact on local natural resources.
Virginia continues to be a hub for data center development, with the Pew Research Center reporting nearly 700 facilities, 400 operational and 300 in various planning stages across the state, primarily in Northern Virginia. Franklin County is now being considered for a new data center, joining other Virginia counties like Botetourt, Wythe, Pulaski, Appomattox, Campbell, and Pittsylvania that are planning their own facilities.
Local resident Laura Carter submitted Freedom of Information Act requests and discovered references to a project called "Project Flash." Her findings also revealed Microsoft Teams meeting invitations from April, indicating discussions between Franklin County leaders and representatives from Crusoe AI. These meetings referenced "Project Flash" and "SVP," which Carter believes stands for Summit View Business Park, a location identified as tied to a potential data center.
While the FOIA disclosures did not confirm an approved development, they sparked questions and concerns among residents. One unnamed individual expressed apprehension, stating that the project, potentially an "AI factory" by Crusoe AI, could be "worse than a data center" due to its expected "drain on our natural resources." Franklin County officials previously declined to comment on "Project Flash."