Harrisonburg, Rockingham County lawmakers open to data centers under the right conditions
Officials in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia, are requiring special use permits for any future data center developments, even on commercially or industrially zoned land. This policy aims to ensure strict oversight and address concerns regarding electricity grid capacity, water supply, and potential environmental impacts. While some officials are open to data centers under specific conditions, others express strong opposition due to high utility demands and community disruption.
Elected officials in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia, have affirmed that data centers will not be permitted in their communities without rigorous oversight, if at all. Both Harrisonburg City Council and Rockingham County require companies to obtain special use permits for data center construction, even on properties already zoned for commercial or industrial use, ensuring public hearings and the ability to impose conditions.
Local administrators and utility managers, including Rockingham County Administrator Casey Armstrong and Harrisonburg Electric Commission General Manager Brian O'Dell, voiced significant concerns about the region's current infrastructure. They highlighted that existing water capacity and electrical grid capabilities are insufficient to handle the intense demands of large-scale data centers without substantial upgrades and careful siting.
Public discourse and academic input are also shaping local policy. Health science professors from James Madison University, Catherine Zeman and Raihan Khan, have studied data center impacts, emphasizing the need for robust public feedback processes to mitigate noise and environmental effects. Some council members, like Laura Dent and Nasser Alsaadun, support the special use permit requirement as a mechanism for residents to influence projects, while Councilwoman Monica Robinson explicitly opposes data centers due to their high electricity and water consumption, fearing negative impacts on utility rates and exacerbating drought conditions.
Rockingham County Supervisors also expressed dedication to protecting agricultural lands. Supervisor Joel Hensley questioned the justification for sacrificing rural landscapes for data center expansion, while Supervisor Matt Dale suggested that only highly self-sufficient projects (e.g., those with their own power and closed-loop cooling) might be considered. Board Chair Leila Longcor and Supervisor Dewey Ritchie emphasized careful siting and addressing water and power demands. Mayor Deanna Reed and Supervisor Sallie Wolfe-Garrison maintained a neutral stance, stating that decisions would be made through an open, transparent process on a case-by-case basis.