Petersburg area residents fight back against data centers
Petersburg residents expressed strong opposition to new data centers at a Virginia town hall, citing concerns about toxic air, safety risks, and increased electricity costs. Speakers supported a proposed moratorium on data center development until a full financial impact study is conducted. The discussion also touched on the need for data centers to bear a larger share of infrastructure costs.
Petersburg residents vociferously opposed new data center developments at a town hall meeting focused on Virginia's energy future, citing worries about toxic air, safety hazards, and rising electricity costs. Registered nurse Constance Green specifically highlighted the danger of data centers near a hydrogen plant, fearing a potential explosion.
The town hall, part of a statewide series organized by Governor Abigail Spanberger's administration to gather input for Virginia's 2045 net-zero carbon energy plan, was presided over by Josephus Allmond, the chief energy officer. Attendees from across Virginia, including independent candidate Justin Goodman, expressed near-unanimous disapproval of data centers, accusing the state of promoting a "poisonous industry.
Support was voiced for a proposed moratorium on data center development, an idea put forth by State Senator Glen Sturevant Jr., R-Colonial Heights. This moratorium would remain in effect until the General Assembly's Joint Subcommittee on Tax Policy completes a report on the future affordability of data centers, addressing who should bear the costs of supporting industry growth—developers or ratepayers.
Virginia, already a global leader in data center numbers, sees the Tri-City area as a new development hotspot. Petersburg has four proposed data centers, with two already having site plan approval. Dinwiddie County's Haven Oak Technology Park plans a massive data center, and Chesterfield County's Meadowville Technology Park is developing three Google data centers near an Amazon distribution center. Hopewell also has a proposed data center at a former ethanol plant site.