Power in the Dark

Behind the closed doors of data center deals in rural Virginia

Virginians are angry and frustrated over the spread of massive AI data centers throughout the state.

They are forming Facebook groups and packing into meeting rooms to demand answers to basic questions: How much electricity will a data center use? How much water will it use? Who will pay? Us or them?

People in communities across the state have discovered that their elected officials made changes to zoning rules to make it easier for tech giants to navigate approval processes without holding public hearings.

Ground Zero

In demanding transparency, residents have discovered that tech giants required local officials to sign NDAs, non-disclosure agreements. NDAs are usually employed to protect proprietary company information during negotiations. But the tech giants' use of NDAs has effectively gagged nearly every employee and elected official in county governments where data centers are proposed.

Government employees in turn are using the NDAs as shields to deflect questions from residents. Even after the deals are signed. Often for years.

Gold Rush

Some of the world's wealthiest tech companies have built data centers just about wherever and whenever they wanted in Virginia.

Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have enticed local officials in cash-starved communities to sign NDAs and support massive data center projects with promises of big bucks flowing into county treasuries. But the real raw power resides in county Boards of Supervisors, who ultimately decide whether data centers will or won't be built.

They say they cannot in good conscience say no because the deals involve the kind of money that could make their communities better places to live. With Big Tech's cash, places like Botetourt County can finally buy items they've dreamed about, like fire trucks, ambulances, police body cameras—and even pickle ball courts.

Photo by the Associated Press.

Zoned Out

Loudoun, Prince William and Wythe counties have had different experiences with data centers because of zoning regulations–or the lack of any rules.

Residents have forced changes in Loudoun and fought back in Prince William. In Wythe, people are still fighting.

Power Hungry

Government officials from the governor's office to county Boards of Supervisors are consumed with FOMO, fear of missing out, because they worry that tech companies will take their business to another community, or worse, to another state.

Virginia's utilities can't say no to requests for power. But right now, they can't meet the demands of the data centers already in the queue. Utilities need to build more infrastructure—large transmission lines that will crisscross the state and cost billions of dollars—to meet the requests of data centers and everyone else in the commonwealth.

Troubled Water

AI data centers need more of everything: More land. More electricity. And more water. The question is where will it come from? And how will it affect communities?

Photo by Julianna Stephenson.

Power Struggle

Statewide data center discussions have caught the attention of lawmakers in Richmond. More than 60 bills related to data centers—the most ever—were considered in this year's General Assembly session.

Lawmakers failed to pass a budget in March 2026 because Democrats split over a proposal to end the state sales and use tax exemption given to the tech industry 16 years ago that transformed Virginia into the data center capital of the world. They recessed after a special session on April 23 without resolving the impasse. It's unclear when the General Assembly will reconvene.

Photo by the Associated Press.

Conflicting opinions

Photo by Jordan Hoover.

Julie Bivins

Co-founder of Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance

“From what I can tell from my own experience the officials have not been transparent whatsoever ... It's really hard to communicate with them at all and to feel seen by them."

Photo courtesy of Doug Parsons.

Doug Parsons

Fauquier County Economic Development Director

"It's just such a unique opportunity. I would equate it to a gold rush or an
oil and gas boom."

Photo by Jordan Hoover.

Marlene Preston

Botetourt County resident who lives next to data center property

"I felt betrayed. If you had told me a year ago there was going to be a Google data center, I would have done a lot of research to even know what impact that was going to be."

Photo from Botetourt County website.

Gary Larrowe

Botetourt County Administrator

"This is one of the larger projects that has ever hit western Virginia."