Beth Macy pledges to back congressional data center moratorium
Congressional candidate Beth Macy is advocating for a federal moratorium on new data center projects, citing local concerns over resource demand and the approval of projects like Project Tallmadge in Strasburg, Virginia. Macy believes that current local opposition efforts are often overridden by "big tech developers" and that federal intervention is needed to establish guardrails for development. Project Tallmadge, a $4.5 billion data center, has already received local government approval despite community pushback.
Beth Macy, a candidate for Congress representing the Shenandoah Valley, has pledged to work towards a federal moratorium on new data center projects. Macy expressed her concerns on her campaign Facebook page following a visit to the Shenandoah County Fair, where residents raised issues about projects like Project Tallmadge.
Project Tallmadge, a 2 million-square-foot, $4.5 billion data center, has already secured approval from the local government in the Town of Strasburg, Virginia, with construction on the 80-acre campus slated to begin in 2027. Macy criticized the process, stating that "big tech developers are coming into rural communities, getting local officials to sign non-disclosure agreements, and steamrolling local opposition."
She highlighted that while data centers bring initial economic activity, they result in an "employment cliff" with only 50-100 full-time jobs once operational, leaving locals with increased power and water bills due to the immense resource demands. Macy emphasized that the fight against data centers should not be solely a local burden and, if elected, she would push for a moratorium until proper guardrails are established for their development.