Citizens Continue to Oppose Data Centers

By DAVID QUESENBERRY

Patriot Publishing 

At the Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Facilities Authority Board meeting on September 9^th, citizens continued to voice their opposition to any data centers being located in Pulaski County. In addition to citizen input, the Authority Board heard the results of a survey which showed strong opposition to a data center in the county and directed staff to continue preparations for a public meeting.

Several citizens spoke at the meeting questioning various aspects of a proposed data center.

Julia Criss of Newbern told the Board it was time to move beyond the non-disclosure agreement and into full disclosure and have a discussion as to what the citizens want out of a data center.

If the covenants and conditions are properly enforced, then the end result could be a “greener more sustainable environmental situation.” She questioned if a proposed facility would be a “one off non-regulated oversight plant or is it going to be fully under EPA guidelines. We’re going to live with this in Pulaski County,” she said, “and we want you to do your best.”

Graham Claytor said he was not confident that the performance agreement had been read with “a business sense.” He said that the agreement could be assigned, allowing the facility to be “flipped” or sold to Google or anyone else for millions. The citizens would receive discounted proceeds from the sale of the land.

Mentioning issues with data centers, Claytor said that there were no specifications set for a data center allowing it “to be whatever the builder wants.”

He also questioned the timing of the $50 million data center investment, which comes at the end of the fourth year of operation. There was a “cure” period of six months and an additional extension of three months, which could move the $50 million investment to the fifth year and almost to the sixth year of operation.

Data centers he said, have a lifespan from three to eight years. It’s unknown what the owner would do nor are the community’s benefits known because the tax structure has not been determined. Claytor said he was willing to bet the tax terms would come later. If the center closes early, the owners could either sell the land back to the Authority or pay consultants to make a decision.

“We call it ‘Project Goose,’” he said, “but it looks like our goose is cooked, while theirs has a golden egg.”

Susanne DeHart of Fairlawn said she failed to see how the performance agreement would create revenue with Virginia’s First providing incentives to the data center company. She noted that the purchase price of the property was $1.6 million or roughly $3,370 per acre. The agreement said the parties would work together with Pulaski County “to achieve a fixed and agreeable real property and personal property tax rate for a period of ten years.” She said, “That tax rate is unknown but guaranteed not the same as the citizens of Pulaski County who will have their property reassessed in 2027.” She said that Virginia’ First would pay $150,000 in project development fees to the company within 30 days of Phase I completion as well as membership dues for the first year to the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and the Onward New River Valley organizations.

DeHart said, “There are so many things being kept from the citizens of Pulaski County, that I find myself unable to believe anything that comes out of the Board of Supervisors’ mouth. All we know is that something is happening between this group of members and the New River Valley L.L.C. which is located in Northern Virginia. Will it be to the County’s benefit? No. We want our farmlands back; our rivers and our waterways. How many times and ways do the citizens of Pulaski County have to say ‘No’ to data centers. If members of this Board want a data center so bad, put it in your area, not in our backyards.”

Sandra Steele asked if the data center issue could be put to a referendum.

Hazel Wines of Dublin noted the many concerns heard during the meeting and that they would keep coming back.

“One of the things that I think really needs to be underscored,” she said “is many of the people making the decision about this don’t live here. There are many localities that don’t have a stake in this. You’ll never even drive by it, you’ll never think about it again. However, we will have to live with it forever. Even some of the people making the decisions, they’ve got gobs or family land in other counties. Things get bad, they can bail. We’re here. We are the ones building and maintaining this county, it’s us. So go ahead and build your legacy on our necks, I guess.”

After comments, Drew Foxx, staff member, reviewed the results of a survey on data centers that was placed on the NRV Commerce Park’s website. Foxx reported that 102 responses were received. Ninety-seven percent of respondents lived within the area served by Virginia’s First. Sixty percent of respondents were from Pulaski County, which included the towns of Dublin and Pulaski. Ten percent were from Montgomery County and three percent each from Giles County and Radford City.

As to whether respondents were for or against data centers, 95 percent were against; 4 percent for; and 2 percent no response. As to how a citizen rated their knowledge on data centers 9 percent rated themselves as expert; 79 percent knew something about it; and 4 percent had no response.

The next questions asked if data centers would be of benefit to Pulaski County and the New River Valley as a whole. An overwhelming 90 percent of respondents said no to both questions indicating they disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Citizens responded they could attend a public meeting on Monday, Wednesday or Thursday preferably between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. As to what their biggest concerns were regarding data centers, 38 percent of respondents listed environmental concerns, while 32 percent were concerned of utility usage and rates. Citizens also indicated by 63 percent of responses that it would be helpful to have an expert on the centers present at a public meeting.

Foxx concluded the survey with two open ended questions asking what respondents expected to learn and what other thoughts and comments they had. Citizens said they would like to learn how to stop a center from being built; what utility and usage rates would be; effect on taxes; long term health risks; and more pros and cons of data centers. Other thoughts from citizens included issues dealing with water usage and livestock.

Based on the survey Foxx said staff was planning on having a public meeting on data centers in the first two weeks of October on the days that citizens chose in the survey. Possible dates for the meeting included Monday, October 5^th or 12^th, and Wednesday, October 7^th or14^th. Potential locations considered for the meeting were Edwards Hall at NRCC, the theater at Pulaski County High School, and the Pulaski County Board of Supervisors board room. Foxx said he wanted a location chosen so that advertising could be done for the meeting and that there would be adequate room for all to attend. The Board asked that inquiries be made to NRCC and Pulaski County Schools.

The next scheduled meeting of the Board of the Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Facilities Authority is at 12:00 noon, Wednesday December 9, 2026 in the New River Room of the Pulaski County Innovation Center, 6580 Valley Center Drive, in Fairlawn, Virginia.