Hopewell leaders shut down data center study report rumors
Hopewell officials have denied rumors that the city was involved in a study examining the feasibility of building a data center. This denial comes after a report linked the city to Volterra Advisors, a consulting firm that purportedly conducted a case study at a former gas plant site. Both the City of Hopewell and Volterra Advisors stated they did not coordinate or communicate regarding such a study.
Hopewell, Virginia officials have refuted rumors linking the city to a data center feasibility study. The controversy arose after The Progress-Index reported that technology consulting firm Volterra Advisors claimed to have conducted a case study with the city and property owners regarding a potential data center site. This study, according to The Progress-Index, identified the former Green Plains Ethanol Plant as a conducive location for a small data center.
However, both the City of Hopewell and Volterra Advisors have since denied any coordination or communication regarding such a study. A spokesperson for the City of Hopewell stated that the initial reporting was incorrect and that they had never communicated with Volterra Advisors. The firm's founder also confirmed that Volterra did not conduct a formal case study with the city, the property owner, or any third party, and that the City of Hopewell had no involvement. Volterra's website lists services like site reports for data center suitability, but the firm did not confirm if such a report was done for Hopewell. The City of Hopewell further noted that it has not received any development applications for the redevelopment of the identified site. The Progress-Index article was updated to reflect the removal of a case study link on Volterra's website after its publication.