Stafford County pauses data center construction amid concerns about slave gravesite

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors has voted to pause a proposed 99-acre data center project on Eskimo Hill Road, Virginia, following concerns regarding a 200-year-old cemetery believed to belong to enslaved people. The developer is now mandated to hire an archaeological consultant for genealogical and archaeological research. Stafford County Board Chairman Deuntay Diggs emphasized the importance of protecting the gravesite, stating he could not support the project otherwise.

The article also highlights broader opposition to Dominion Energy's plans to construct two new high-voltage transmission lines, dubbed "Kraken" and later renamed "North Anna to Bristers," spanning 70 miles through five Virginia counties—Spotsylvania, Stafford, Louisa, Caroline, and Fauquier. These lines are intended to meet the growing electricity demands of data centers in Northern Virginia, including Loudoun and Prince William counties, and new developments in Stafford and Spotsylvania. Residents along the proposed route, such as Stephanie Mojica and Jeannice Desorneau, express significant concerns over potential impacts on property values, quality of life, and health, with some facing the loss of parts of their backyards and trees.

Furthermore, the article delves into local tax rates, noting that Spotsylvania, Stafford, and the City of Fredericksburg have significantly lower data center equipment tax rates ($1.25 per $100 of assessed value) compared to counties like Fairfax, Prince William, and Loudoun (over $4.00). Loudoun County Supervisor Kristen Umstattd urged Stafford and Spotsylvania to raise their rates to better fund local services like schools and roads, asserting that data centers are financially capable of paying higher taxes. Spotsylvania County recently adopted a resolution requiring special-use permits for data centers, allowing for public input and project design evaluation.