Revised plans for a data center campus and natural gas power plant in Virginia’s Pittsylvania County have been recommended for refusal by county officials.
Developer Balico LLC is seeking to build the campus on land off Mill Creek Road in the county. Having seen an initial application for more than 70 data centers on 47 parcels of land totaling 2,200 acres - accompanied by a 3.5GW natural gas power plant - rejected last year, the company has returned with fresh plans.
A meeting of the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission on Tuesday evening considered Balico’s new scheme, which would see 13 parcels of land totaling 700 acres developed. The company wants to rezone the land from a residential suburban subdivision and agricultural district to a heavy-use industrial district suitable for data center construction.
The data centers would initially be powered by mobile gas turbines providing 300MW, with a permanent power installation to follow later. Balico would operate the power infrastructure on the site, and plans to let the data centers to hyperscale tenants.
However, during the five-hour meeting, 30 speakers voiced opposition to the plan, the Danville Register and Bee reported. Some apparently carried signs reading “no power plant, no data centers in rural neighborhoods.”
Many were concerned about the impact the development would have on the surrounding countryside, as well as the strain it could put on the area’s water supply. Members of the Commission also said a series of proffers from Balico - legally binding commitments to support community projects including funding a new a fire station - were only received on Tuesday, giving officials little time to digest them.
One resident, Barry Creasy, told the meeting that “the beauty and tranquility of this area would be destroyed” if the data center was built. He said: “This project has already destroyed untold relationships in this area.”
Speaking on behalf of Balico, Steven Gould from law firm PLDR Law, said: “This is an opportunity for Pittsylvania County and our region to meet the moment. The investment in jobs extends beyond just those related to construction and technology.”
Balico has previously said the total project cost could run to $8.86 billion, and generate $100 million a year in tax revenue for the county.
The plan will now go forward to the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, which will make a final decision at a meeting on February 18.
Balico chose the site because of its proximity to the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), a 303-mile pipeline delivering natural gas produced in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in the Atlantic Ocean, as well as several fiber routes.
A statement from the company, issued through its legal team, said: "Balico remains committed to creating a world-class data center campus in Pittsylvania County. We will continue working with county staff to provide information regarding our proposal, and we look forward to presenting this opportunity to the Board of Supervisors next month."
Speaking to DCD last year, Balico CEO Irfan Ali said he hoped the revised plan would demonstrate the benefits the data center can bring to Pittsylvania County.
“Our first phase will be 300MW and we want to work with the community to show the benefits this development can deliver,” Ali said. “It will give residents the opportunity to see what we’re planning and how we’re going to minimize the impact of the data center on the surrounding area.”
