Tenaska changes, data center debate dominate supervisors’ return

Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors returned from their summer break to debate potential data center development and a proposed pause on new applications. Supervisor Chris Fairchild suggested removing data centers entirely as an allowable use under county zoning and requested a resolution for an Aug. 19 agenda, which would include a temporary moratorium on new applications while the issue is considered.

This discussion was prompted by Sugar Oak Realty marketing an 843-acre parcel near Bremo Bluff as a scalable development site with easy access to transmission lines, suitable for a data center. County officials, including Economic Development Director Jennifer Schmack, clarified that the property remains zoned agricultural and would require both rezoning and a special use permit, including public hearings, for any data center development.

The board also addressed recently announced design changes to Tenaska's Expedition Generation power plant, for which they had approved a special use permit in March. The shift from a "wet cooling" to an air cooling design could significantly reduce daily water usage from 6-7 million gallons to 1 million gallons, but might increase noise and the facility's footprint. Supervisors questioned County Administrator Eric Dahl and County Attorney Dan Whitten about the implications for noise levels, the plant's total footprint, and its increased power output (potentially 1,640 MW) and connection requirements to nearby Dominion Energy transmission lines and substations. Staff were directed to gather more information from Tenaska for further board discussion.