Data Center Community Meeting

While data centers are a part of our modern world, their explosive growth is having unprecedented consequences. These impacts include higher energy bills for all consumers, new massive transmission lines and substations, impaired air quality, threats to local water supply, and a reliance on fossil fuels for their massive energy demands that threatens Virginia’s ability to meet its hard-fought climate goals.

Locally, Albemarle County is pushing to update its recently adopted Data Center Ordinance this fall, proposing that data centers can be built without input from the public or elected officials in certain areas. The potential for noise pollution, visual obtrusion and diesel generator-caused air pollution of large data centers near parks, neighborhoods and medical facilities are reasons enough to ensure that community members have the ability to voice their concerns when data center proposals are introduced in the future.

Join us for a community meeting Tuesday, Sept. 16 from 6-8 p.m. to hear from Julie Bolthouse, PEC’s Director of Land Use and one of the leaders of the Virginia Data Center Reform Coalition, about data centers’ environmental impacts and how advocating for regulations at the state and local level and transparency can achieve better outcomes for communities. PEC’s Albemarle County Senior Land Use Representative, Rob McGinnis will talk about Albemarle County specifically, the ongoing Data Center Ordinance update, and how you can get involved this fall.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions of staff who are working on the ground in Loundoun, Culpeper, Orange and Albemarle Counties, where data center development and proposals are heaviest. We will also have detailed maps around the room of the proposal Data Center Overlay Districts in Albemarle County and increased and larger transmission lines.

This event is free and open to the public but registration is required. Consider donating to support PEC's work on data center reform, trails and connectivity, conservation and other land use advocacy.

Video Explainers:

• Hidden Cost of the Cloud: Data Centers in Virginia (Piedmont Environmental Council)
• Albemarle Board of Supervisors considers draft data center ordinance (29 News)
• Albemarle County officials hear opinions on data center proposal (CBS19)

Background:

Conversations about data center development have made their way steadily down PEC’s service region — from the “data center capital of the world” in Loudoun County to historic and environmentally significant sites in Culpeper and Orange counties, and now down to Albemarle County and Charlottesville. PEC has been there every step of the way.

Last year, PEC and the Southern Environmental Law Center successfully advocated that larger data centers (those over 40,000 square feet) must go through the local legislative review process of a Special Use Permit, which requires opportunities for public feedback. Now, as the county further develops the existing Data Center Ordinance, PEC is focused on ensuring the county’s new ordinance includes responsible regulations and transparency to protect Albemarle County from potential adverse impacts from data centers.

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