Expert weighs in on environmental impacts of data centers in Virginia
News ClipWHSV·Harrisonburg, Harrisonburg City County, VA·2/25/2026
The article discusses the environmental impacts of the growing demand for data centers in Virginia, particularly concerns around the high electricity and water usage of these facilities. An expert from James Madison University cautions that the costs of this increased infrastructure may be passed on to consumers through higher utility bills, and raises questions about the long-term sustainability of quickly-obsolete data center hardware. The article also mentions a proposal from former President Trump for data centers to build their own power plants, which the expert says could lead to even worse environmental impacts.
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The demand for data centers is growing rapidly in Virginia, driven by state funding and the rise of artificial intelligence. However, experts warn that the expansion of these facilities could have significant environmental costs. Stefano Colafranceschi, an assistant professor at JMU, expressed concerns about the infrastructure and implementation of the data center plans, highlighting the potential for higher utility bills and environmental pollution. President Trump proposed a strategy for data center companies to build their own power plants, but Colafranceschi warned that this could lead to even worse environmental impacts. Additionally, there are questions about the sustainability of the data center business model, as specialized hardware may become outdated within a few years, requiring constant replacements.