Virginia data center project is no longer moving forward
A proposed data center project named 'Project Flash' in Franklin County, Virginia, has been canceled. Despite this, community members and some supervisors are still pushing for comprehensive zoning and plan updates to protect the county from future data center developments.
The proposed 'Project Flash' data center in Franklin County, Virginia, has been canceled, according to Franklin County Board of Supervisors member Mike Meredith. He announced the project's halt at a recent community meeting, acknowledging the relief this brings to many residents who opposed it.
However, community members and some local officials assert that the fight against future data centers is far from over. Christine Sizemore, Vice Chair of the Franklin County Community Coalition, highlighted the county's lack of appropriate zoning and comprehensive plan updates to protect against large resource-intensive industries like data centers. Another resident, Angela D'Arienzo, expressed her intent to move if such protections are not put in place.
Board of Supervisors member Tim Tatum stated his commitment to being a voice for the community and pushing for changes to implement 'good, solid provisions' to protect Franklin County's character. While the termination of Project Flash is seen as a positive step, residents plan to continue advocating for stronger county-wide safeguards against future data center developments.