“Enough is enough”: March for a Moratorium makes final stop in Richmond
Virginians gathered in Richmond for the final stop of a two-week campaign calling for a moratorium on data center development across Virginia. Protesters cited concerns about electricity costs, water use, air quality, industrial expansion and the effects of a proposed Dominion Energy-NextEra Energy merger, while Iron Mountain’s planned campuses near Richmond were cited as a local example of data center growth.
The Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s “March for a Moratorium” concluded at Capitol Square in Richmond, where University of Richmond students, environmental advocates and residents urged Virginia leaders to pause data center permitting. Speakers called for stronger clean-energy, water-protection and consumer-cost safeguards, while criticizing Gov. Abigail Spanberger for not including a development pause in a recent executive order containing environmental and transparency proposals.
The rally also highlighted concerns about the proposed $67 billion Dominion Energy-NextEra Energy merger and its potential effects on Virginia’s power grid and future data center expansion. Organizers and community advocates linked data center growth to electricity demand, transmission infrastructure, air and water quality, rural land loss and disproportionate impacts on lower-income and non-white communities. Iron Mountain’s development of four data center campuses at White Oak Technology Park was cited as an example of ongoing construction near Richmond, while protesters called for a statewide moratorium and broader public input.