People raise concerns about data center development in Chesterfield
Residents in Chesterfield County, Virginia, voiced strong opposition to Google's proposed 880-acre data center at a Board of Supervisors meeting. Concerns include air quality from diesel generators, water usage, and the impact on the rural community's character and electric bills. Speakers are demanding a transparent meeting with county leaders and Google to address these issues.
Residents of Chesterfield County, Virginia, expressed significant concerns about Google's proposed data center development during a recent Board of Supervisors meeting. Although data centers were not on the official agenda, Victoria Sagstetter, a Moseley resident, led calls for transparency and community engagement regarding the projects.
Sagstetter lives near Google's planned 880-acre data center site in Upper Magnolia Green. She highlighted worries about potential air pollution from diesel generators, increased water usage, and the overall impact on local utility bills and the rural character of her community, stating that such large-scale industrial development was not part of the county's comprehensive plan. Other speakers echoed her sentiments, emphasizing the need for elected representatives to provide direct answers and ensure economic growth does not compromise natural resources.
Google had previously announced plans for a multiphase data center campus on Bermuda Hundred Road and acquired two other sites, including the Upper Magnolia Green property and a 350-acre section of Watkins Centre South. Despite Bermuda District Supervisor Jim Ingle's past assurances that Google had addressed data concerns, residents like Sagstetter feel excluded from the process due to non-disclosure agreements. They are now pushing for a community meeting with Google representatives and county supervisors to obtain answers and address their collective opposition.
While no decisions were made at Wednesday's meeting, the article notes data center development is a trending topic across Virginia, with Hanover County recently discussing tax rates on data center equipment, though no changes were adopted there either. Residents in Chesterfield remain committed to seeking a direct dialogue with the key parties involved.