Virginia DEQ Holds Hearing on Amazon Data Center Wastewater Discharge Permit in Louisa County

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is conducting a second public hearing to gather comments on a summary of public feedback concerning a discharge permit for an Amazon data center campus located near Lake Anna in Louisa County. This permit, identified as Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit #VA0093319, is necessary for the facility to discharge treated noncontact cooling water into state waters, as mandated by the Clean Water Act and Virginia's State Water Control Law. The hearing will take place at 7 p.m. at Louisa County Middle School, with no new comments being accepted, but focusing solely on the DEQ's responses to previously submitted input.

The Amazon data center project in Louisa County involves an $11 billion investment across two campuses, first announced in August 2023. This development followed the county's amendment of its zoning to include a technology overlay district with associated tax incentives. The DEQ's summary addresses concerns, including opposition to the discharge of treated or untreated water, by explaining the legal framework that authorizes such discharges under strict monitoring via VPDES permits, similar to those issued for municipal, construction, agricultural, and industrial facilities.