Chatham residents oppose Balaco LLC's data center project in Pennsylvania County

Concerns over a proposed data center project dominated the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors meeting on March 18, 2025, as residents voiced strong opposition to the plan. The project, spearheaded by Valaco LLC, aims to establish a data center campus and an on-site power generator on approximately 747 acres near Chatham, raising alarms about potential environmental impacts and threats to the rural community's quality of life.

Local resident testimonies highlighted fears that the project would disrupt the area's natural resources, including air and water quality, while also increasing noise and light pollution. One speaker passionately urged the Board to reject the rezoning application, stating, "This project is not a once in a lifetime opportunity. Let it go. There will be other opportunities that will not destroy our rural farming neighborhoods with concrete and pollution."

The Chatham Garden Club also weighed in, presenting a formal resolution opposing the project. They emphasized that the proposed site is prime agricultural land, and the development would significantly harm both residents and local wildlife. The resolution called for the Board to heed the recommendations of the Planning Commission and deny the rezoning request.

As the meeting progressed, the atmosphere was charged with emotion, with residents expressing a collective desire for the Board to prioritize community welfare over industrial development. The Board's decision on the rezoning application remains pending, but the strong community opposition signals a critical moment for the future of Pittsylvania County's rural landscape.