Pittsylvania County supervisors support expedited permitting for data center in megasite
Pittsylvania County supervisors have unanimously supported expediting state permitting for STACK Infrastructure's proposed data center at the Berry Hill megasite through a special Virginia program. This program prioritizes economic development projects for review without lessening regulatory requirements. Despite economic promises, local residents are skeptical about the project's long-term implications.
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a resolution to support STACK Infrastructure's proposed data center at the Berry Hill megasite, seeking to enroll it in Virginia's Expedited Permitting Program. This state-level initiative prioritizes up to four economic development projects annually for expedited review, though it does not allow for a more lenient assessment of compliance with existing laws, according to Matt Rowe, Pittsylvania County's economic development director.
The data center project, a joint effort between Pittsylvania County and the City of Danville, was announced earlier in the summer. It promises a substantial investment of approximately $100 billion over 30 years and the creation of 2,500 new jobs over two decades. The project will require permits from numerous state agencies, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Despite the potential economic benefits, local residents have expressed skepticism and caution regarding the region's first data center, particularly concerns about its potential to spur further industrial development in unintended areas. The article also notes a broader state-level debate within the Virginia General Assembly over continuing sales tax exemptions for data centers, an issue that has contributed to delays in the state budgeting process.