County With 37 Data Centers Tells Schools to "Turn Off Your Lights" to Save Electricity Ahead of Scorching Heat Wave
Henrico County, Virginia, a hub for 37 data centers with 17 more planned, is facing a 25% electricity rate increase, adding an estimated $5 million to government and school costs. Amidst a heatwave, the county manager asked public schools and facilities to conserve electricity. This situation is fueling local controversy regarding data centers' high power demands and their impact on residents' utility bills.
Henrico County, Virginia, a rapidly expanding hub for data centers, is grappling with significant electricity cost increases and calls for conservation amidst a severe heatwave. The county, currently home to 37 data centers with 17 more planned, informed its public schools that electricity rates would jump by 25% starting July 1st, leading to an estimated $5 million increase in costs for the upcoming fiscal year. County Manager John Vithoulkas issued an email to thousands of county employees, including school staff, requesting collective adjustments to conserve electricity, such as turning off lights and computers and adjusting blinds.
Vithoulkas warned of further rate increases in the future, highlighting the strain on the power grid. While he did not explicitly mention reducing air conditioning, the timing of the request coincides with peak demand for cooling during the heatwave. The situation has intensified local controversy surrounding data centers, which are criticized for their immense power and water consumption, noise generation, and land use. The article notes that residents near data centers have experienced soaring electricity bills, with one individual's bill doubling despite efforts to conserve energy.