Henry County Supervisors Approve Strict Data Center Regulations
The Henry County Board of Supervisors in Virginia unanimously approved a new zoning ordinance that establishes strict regulations for any future data center proposals. This action follows significant resident concerns raised during a public hearing in July regarding potential impacts on the community. The ordinance aims to protect the county's interests and hold developers accountable for future projects, even though no specific data center projects are currently proposed.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors in Virginia unanimously voted to approve a new zoning ordinance aimed at establishing stringent regulations for any data center proposed within the county. The decision was made following a previous public hearing in July where over 100 residents voiced strong opposition and concerns, prompting the board to withdraw an earlier, less restrictive proposal and direct staff to strengthen the regulations.
The new ordinance creates a dedicated Data Center District and outlines comprehensive requirements covering aspects such as noise limits, water consumption, electrical infrastructure, setbacks, cooling systems, lighting, and emergency response. It also mandates financial assurance from developers for facility removal upon decommissioning. Key provisions include a minimum 1,000-foot setback from non-industrial properties, a 50 decibel noise limit, and the exclusive use of closed-loop cooling systems.
Supervisors Pam Cobler and Garrett Dillard, along with Board Chairman Jim Adams, emphasized that this ordinance does not approve any data center construction, as there are currently no proposed projects. Instead, it serves as a protective measure to ensure accountability from future developers and requires multiple public hearings through the Henry County Planning Commission, Board of Supervisors, and Board of Zoning Appeals before any project could proceed. Chairman Adams stated the goal was to establish