Google data center project in Chesterfield racks up seven environmental violations from state
Google's Project Peanut data center in Chesterfield County received seven environmental violations from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality related to sediment runoff, unauthorized waterway filling and wetland impacts. Google said it temporarily paused general construction to address cleanup and erosion controls, while residents continue to raise concerns about the project's water, power, noise and environmental effects.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality cited Google’s Project Peanut data center in Chesterfield County for seven environmental violations recorded over roughly eight months. The violations involved unauthorized filling outside the project site and sediment discharges that affected about 7,735 linear feet of stream channel, along with impacts to forested and emergent wetlands. Peanut LLC faces potential civil penalties of up to $32,500 per day for each violation and was given until Oct. 30 to respond.
Google said heavy rainfall overwhelmed stormwater controls, causing sediment runoff, and that it temporarily paused general construction to focus on cleanup and site stabilization. The company said most items in the notice had been addressed and that it was working with DEQ on stronger erosion controls. The Project Peanut site is the first of three planned Google data centers in Chesterfield, where residents have also questioned the developments’ power and water demands, noise and broader environmental effects.