Google data center project in Chesterfield cited for environmental violations
Virginia regulators say Google’s Project Peanut data center site in Chesterfield County committed more than half a dozen environmental violations during construction. The alleged violations include unauthorized filling of waterways and sediment pollution affecting a stream and wetlands, and the project could face substantial civil penalties.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice of violation to Project Peanut, the first of three planned Google data centers in Chesterfield County. Regulators cited seven reports and five inspections between December 2025 and August 2026, including unauthorized filling of surface waters and sediment discharge that accumulated along roughly 1,356 feet of stream channel and affected nearly an acre of wetlands near Meadowville Technology Park.
Project officials, including Google representative Aaron McGarry, have until Oct. 29 to respond. The notice says penalties could reach $32,500 per violation per day, potentially totaling as much as $7 million per month. Environmental Integrity Project researcher Courtney Bernhardt warned that sediment can damage aquatic ecosystems, while local residents have separately criticized the data center developments over transparency and economic impacts. Chesterfield County and DEQ declined to provide additional comment.