Chesterfield says it won’t approve any more data center projects

Chesterfield County, Virginia, has declared a halt to future data center expansion, stating that its Board of Supervisors will not approve new zoning requests for projects beyond those already established. Deputy County Administrator Jesse Smith indicated that staff would not recommend new proposals, citing a lack of appetite from the board amid increasing public opposition.

This policy shift comes about a year after Google announced its significant investment in multiple data centers within Chesterfield County, a project anticipated to reach $9 billion at full buildout. Google's facilities, including Project Peanut, Project Skye, and Project Loch, are expected to be the largest data center operation in the county, with the first building becoming operational in late 2027. Despite initial low public interest during Google's zoning approval process in 2025, recent community meetings have seen heightened attention.

Alongside Google, other companies like Irish firm Chirisa and an entity tied to Global Securitization Services have active or under-construction data centers in the county. The county is also evaluating how to utilize the projected $31 million to $47 million in annual local revenue from these facilities and is considering raising the special tax rate on data center equipment. Appeals related to conditional use permit requirements, introduced this year, have also been processed, with one developer's appeal rejected by the Board of Zoning Appeals and another pending.