Henrico residents voice concerns about data centers, Flock cameras at supervisors’ meeting
Residents in Henrico County, Virginia, voiced concerns at a Board of Supervisors meeting about the environmental and economic impacts of the county's numerous data centers, specifically regarding increased electricity rates and water usage. They urged the county to impose stricter regulations on these large energy consumers, especially after local conservation measures were requested from residents. A county supervisor also indicated that Henrico has reached its capacity for data center expansion.
Residents of Henrico County, Virginia, expressed significant concerns regarding the proliferation of data centers within the county at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting. The county, home to 37 data centers, including hyperscale facilities primarily in the eastern White Oak Technology Park, has seen growing public apprehension over water availability and escalating electricity costs. After a 25% surge in electricity rates led County Manager John Vithoulkas to ask staff to conserve power, residents pushed back, arguing that the county should impose more restrictions on large energy consumers like data centers.
Local college student David Parker articulated resident frustrations, stating that data centers "drive up electricity prices and they steal water from our people," asserting that these impacts disproportionately affect lower-income communities and people of color in the East End. Similar opposition arose when the county implemented voluntary water restrictions for residents, who questioned why data centers, reportedly using 500,000 gallons daily on average, were not similarly asked to conserve. However, Bentley Chan, Director of Henrico's Department of Public Utilities, noted that data centers account for only about 2% of the county's total daily water usage.
Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson indicated the county has "reached our max for expansion of data centers." This statement follows the approval of a significant 1,100-acre expansion for QTS, which involved rezoning land in 2024 and is currently under construction. Residents continue to advocate for stronger county oversight of data center development.