Culpeper County leader says misinformation fuels data center outrage; residents push back
Residents in Culpeper County, Virginia, are actively opposing data center development, citing concerns about energy and water usage, noise, and impacts on electricity bills. A county supervisor attributes some opposition to misinformation, while residents maintain their concerns are valid. The county anticipates significant tax revenue from approved data center campuses, including one by Amazon.
The push for data center development is extending into rural areas like Culpeper County, Virginia, where residents are urging the Board of Supervisors to preserve the county's rural character and reject further data center projects, along with associated substations and transmission lines.
At a recent board meeting, a Culpeper County supervisor suggested that much of the resident outrage regarding data centers stems from misinformation and "fabrications." However, he maintained confidence that the county's planning for its technology zone was executed correctly.
Culpeper County residents, like Felicia Ashley who spoke to ABC 7 News, counter that their concerns are legitimate, ranging from significant energy and water consumption and noise pollution to the potential impact on their electricity bills. They argue that these data centers are not a local necessity and threaten the county's tranquil, rural lifestyle by consuming land and requiring extensive infrastructure.
Currently, Culpeper County hosts two operational data centers and is preparing for seven new data center campuses within its 1,000-acre Culpeper Tech Zone, including an approved Amazon Data Center campus. The county projects that data centers could generate $2.2 billion in total tax revenue over 15 years, representing a substantial portion of the county's budget. Despite this, some residents believe the county is missing out on additional revenue by not implementing a special tax on data center computer equipment, a practice used by neighboring Loudoun and Prince William counties.