Chesterfield neighbors get chance to question Google about planned data centers
Google is planning three data center campuses totaling over 1,500 acres in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Residents are raising concerns about transparency, noise, water, and electricity usage. Community members will have the opportunity to question Google representatives directly at open-house meetings this week.
Chesterfield County, Virginia, residents are expressing significant concerns regarding Google's plans to develop three data center campuses spanning more than 1,500 acres in their community. Residents, including Margaret Murphy and Mike Uzel, highlight issues such as a lack of transparency from both the county and Google, the proximity of the proposed sites to residential areas, potential noise pollution, excessive water consumption, and the strain on the local electric grid and infrastructure.
Community members will have their first direct opportunity to engage with Google representatives at open-house meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, where they can review project plans and ask questions. This local opposition in Chesterfield County is part of a broader, growing movement across Virginia against data center expansion.
Activists like Sarah Ahmed of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters and Jennifer Corpus, a Hanover County activist, have called for state lawmakers to implement an immediate pause on data center permitting until stronger regulations are established. Concerns about water usage have been amplified by revelations from Kathryn Hatam, representing Botetourt County, who cited FOIA records indicating a proposed Google Data Center there could consume significantly more water than initially projected. The collective turnout at these local meetings and state rallies aims to send a strong message to both developers and elected officials.