Fluidstack hosts open house on Wythe County data center as protesters voice frustration
Fluidstack held an open house about its 99-acre data center campus at Progress Park in Wythe County, addressing concerns about water use, energy demand, noise and taxes. Protesters and residents criticized the event and said they want changes to county zoning rules to make future data center development more difficult.
Fluidstack hosted an information session for Wythe County residents about its data center project at Progress Park, where construction has already begun. Kate Franco, the company’s public affairs lead, said the facility will use closed-loop cooling, pay for its electricity and related upgrades, comply with park noise limits, and create about 1,000 peak construction jobs and 75 permanent positions. The company expects the campus to be operational by the end of 2027.
Protesters gathered outside the event, while residents including Maranda Edwards and Georgia Randall said the open-house format did not allow the community to ask questions or speak collectively. Andy Kegley of Preserve Wythe said the meeting came after the site had already been graded and criticized the company for not identifying the project’s end user. Residents also expressed broader concern about another planned data center near the Pulaski County line and said they hope to change county zoning rules governing such developments.