Botetourt officials decline interviews as protests target Google data center plan
Protesters across the Roanoke-to-Richmond region are opposing Google’s planned three-building data center campus in Botetourt County and calling for a moratorium. Residents say they lack answers from Google and county officials about energy and water use, safety, property values and the pace of construction, while site grading has begun.
Protests are continuing against Google’s planned 312-acre data center campus in Botetourt County, where grading for the first of three buildings has started. Demonstrators are urging lawmakers to impose a moratorium and are seeking information about the project’s energy and water consumption, safety measures and potential effects on property values.
Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe, Economic Development Director Kyle Rosner and members of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors did not provide interviews to WSET about residents’ concerns. Google spokesman Clay Allsop said the project is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and that comparable campuses employ about 400 full-time workers; the first facility is projected to be completed in 2028.