Dinwiddie families fear data center near their homes will upend wildlife, water and way of life
Residents in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, are actively opposing Tract's proposed 1,000-acre Haven Oak Technology Park data center, citing concerns about wildlife, water resources, and noise. Their pushback coincides with Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger's introduction of a new statewide framework to increase oversight and establish stricter environmental and energy standards for data centers. The project is currently undergoing review by the county's planning department.
Dinwiddie County residents are voicing strong opposition to the proposed Haven Oak Technology Park, a 1,000-acre data center campus planned by Tract near White Oak and Claiborne roads. At a recent community meeting, residents like Jeannie Schelin expressed deep concerns about the project's potential impact on local wildlife, water wells, electricity rates, and quality of life, emphasizing that the development would be irreversible. The site's proximity to a Civil War battlefield also raised objections.
The local opposition emerges as Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger introduces a new statewide framework aimed at regulating the rapidly expanding data center industry. Governor Spanberger's plan seeks greater transparency, stronger standards for energy efficiency, water use, land impacts, and backup generation, while also banning non-disclosure agreements between state agencies and data center projects. Many residents felt a lack of transparency from Tract during their community engagement, mirroring the Governor's push for more open processes.
Tract, the land acquisition company behind the proposal, declined an interview with CBS 6 but provided some written responses, stating a future operator would adhere to county conditions. They also noted modifications to remove development from 185 acres of battlefield land and a capped water use at 70,000 gallons per day, with the facility projected to require up to 900 megawatts. The Haven Oak Technology Park is currently in its early stages and remains under review by the Dinwiddie County planning department.