Augusta County residents argue against data centers

Augusta County residents are actively urging the Board of Supervisors to halt data center development within the county, citing significant environmental and infrastructural concerns. During a recent meeting, Jo Dee Massanari of Goshen, a veteran of the tech industry, articulated fears that data centers would deplete water resources and render land unusable, specifically referencing potential contamination of her well water. Massanari also highlighted rumors of a data center site at the former Augusta County Correctional Center in Craigsville, stating it would "destroy Augusta County." Another Craigsville resident, William Bashaw, echoed these concerns, emphasizing Virginia's existing high concentration of data centers. He raised alarms about the massive electrical demands these facilities impose, suggesting that Dominion Energy would need to increase its reliance on coal and natural gas, thereby jeopardizing state climate goals. Augusta County Administrator Tim Fitzgerald noted that the county is exploring "closed-loop" cooling units to mitigate water usage. The Board of Supervisors is anticipated to consider a new data center ordinance later this year to establish regulations on locations and operational requirements for such developments.