Residents press Wythe County supervisors over data center impacts as board OKs Progress Park letter of intent

Residents urged Wythe County supervisors on June 30 to slow or reconsider large data center development, citing concerns about water use, heat, noise and chemical contamination — concerns supervisors heard during a public comment period that preceded a separate board action to authorize a letter of intent for property in Progress Park.

John Steinberg, who identified himself as a resident and solutions architect, told the board that earlier staff estimates of data center water use were “wildly low.” He said in his review that a typical data center can consume far more water than the 2,000 gallons-per-day figure discussed at prior meetings and read a range of engineering estimates to underscore the risk to local water resources. “The math on that says it will use 7,000 gallons per day at the low end and 350,000 gallons at the high end,” Steinberg said, characterizing available public figures and his calculations as reason to re-examine county assumptions.

Miranda Edwards, another citizen who said she visited proposed site areas, described visible environmental stress on local waterways and livestock, and warned of health and contamination risks she associated with large-scale data center cooling systems. “Adding even one data center to our community contributes to this crisis through the heat island effect,” Edwards said, and she asked supervisors to meet directly with neighbors before approving projects.

Stacy Bieber read remarks on behalf of another constituent that also pressed the board on transparency and recent economic decisions; she asked the board to revisit a recent vote that set an apparent $500 application fee for establishing agricultural and forestal districts and criticized the board’s handling of a recent JIDA director resignation as lacking candor.

After public comment and other agenda business, the board — following a closed session earlier in the meeting — voted to authorize the county administrator to execute a letter of intent for a potential lease with option to purchase property in Progress Park. The motion to authorize the LOI was made by Mister Terry and seconded by Mister Morgan; the roll call recorded approval, with Miss Crockett recording a dissenting vote.

County officials did not adopt new restrictions or pause the process during the meeting; the authorization of the LOI is a procedural step that allows staff to pursue a potential lease and does not itself finalize a sale or development agreement. Supervisors also scheduled follow-up work and a tour of county facilities after the meeting.

The record shows strong citizen concern about water, noise and environmental impacts; the board’s authorization to pursue a letter of intent means discussions and negotiations over Progress Park property will continue in coming weeks.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for July 14, when staff expect to bring additional materials and potential resolutions related to economic development and capital projects.