First Project Hercules site eyed to open in 2029; full buildout may take a decade
AVAIO Digital is expected to begin construction by the end of the year on the first of seven planned hyperscale data centers at the Appomattox Center for Business and Commerce. County officials project $8 billion to $10 billion in investment, while residents oppose the project over transparency, resource demands, and its potential effects on the community.
AVAIO Digital plans to develop a seven-building hyperscale data center campus on more than 400 acres in Appomattox County, with the first facility expected to begin operating in 2029. The full buildout is projected to take about a decade and could bring $8 billion to $10 billion in investment and as many as 250 jobs, according to county officials and Economic Development Authority Chairman Garet Bosiger.
The Appomattox County Board of Supervisors agreed to a performance agreement with AVAIO during a closed session in August, but the formal document has not been released. Terms described in an email include AVAIO responsibility for arranging and paying for water service, sound limits, daylight-only generator testing, a required sound study and shielded outdoor lighting. Residents including Cope and Mike Radigan criticized the project’s approval process and potential impact on the county’s character, while AVAIO did not respond to WSET’s requests for comment.