Data Center Town Hall
On Tuesday, August 18th we partnered with Studio Two Three to host a Data Center Town Hall to address data center expansion in Virginia.
Over 300 citizens from across the state (some traveling 3+ hours) joined us to learn about the role of data centers in our state and their wide-ranging impacts on our environment, water access, electricity and health. We were joined by:
Gray Montrose, an environmental advocate in Henrico County, who works in land conservation.
Jennifer Corpus, a grassroots organizer from Hanover County, and founder of Friends of Hanover/Stop Hanover Data Centers
Suzanne Boothby, an award-winning author and executive editor of The Brockovich Report, a Substack newsletter with Erin Brockovich that covers the national water crisis, toxic chemicals, and other problems in your backyard
Tim Cywinski, is a political communications specialist and community organizer dedicated to empowering people in the realms of economic fairness, education equity, and environmental justice.
Mary Finley-Brook, a Professor of Geography, Environment and Sustainability at the University of Richmond, where she has taught since 2006.
Pamela Price, who has worked with national and government agencies to develop and implement multi-faceted programs to meet the societal and cultural needs of under-served communities. Mrs. Price currently serves as the Deputy Director for The Balm In Gilead managing the various faith and community-based initiatives of the organization.
Panelists covered a wide range of topics– from identifying strategic misinformation spread by corporations & local officials intended to discredit public concerns to building a local grassroots campaign.
A special thanks to photographer & journalist Julianne Tripp Hillman for capturing the evening for Style Weekly. The photographs below were all captured by Julianne:
According to Style Weekly’s piece,
According to a recent poll in July by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginians are concerned about the explosive growth of data centers in our state and oppose a sales tax exemption for them.
The Commonwealth of Virginia leads the nation in planned data centers with Northern Virginia accounting for “the largest concentration of digital infrastructure on Earth,” according to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. According to Cleanview, which tracks data centers: “There are 371 operating data centers in Virginia with a combined capacity of 17,378 megawatts, and 459 planned projects that would add 37,627 megawatts of additional capacity.”
The VCU poll also notes that on the issue of data centers: “72% of registered voters oppose granting sales tax exemptions as an incentive for their development, and 81% support requiring data centers to offset the demands they place on Virginia’s electric infrastructure.” On Tuesday, Aug. 18, Richmonders showed up at Studio Two Three in Manchester for a community town hall and information session held by individuals who are fighting back against the explosive growth of data centers in Virginia.
