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Residents warn board that proposed data center could strain water, raise rates and harm local environment
Summary
Several residents told the board the proposed data center will use far more water and power than officials have cited, cited health and noise concerns linked to fluid-stack facilities, and urged stronger engagement, zoning and fact-checking of developer claims.
At the start of Citizens Time, multiple residents urged the Wythe County Board of Supervisors to reconsider or tighten review of a proposed data center and raised wider concerns about county decisions affecting agriculture and transparency.
John Steinberg, who identified himself as a solutions architect and software engineer, told the board he had reviewed prior meeting materials and found earlier water-use estimates for the data center “wildly low.” He said industry norms indicate substantially higher water use and provided a range of figures, saying that, based on square-footage estimates he found, daily water use could range from about 7,000 to 350,000 gallons depending on assumptions. He also warned that high-power AI-focused data centers can greatly increase local electricity demand and put upward pressure on rates.
Stacy Bieber (reading remarks for Andy) objected to a recent May 26 action that set a $500 application fee for establishing an agricultural and forestal district without clearer public notice. She contrasted that $500 figure with a $20 renewal fee she found in one existing ordinance and asked the board to revisit the vote and its policy rationale. Bieber also criticized the board for not addressing a recent resignation of the JIDA director at a joint meeting and called for more transparency in communications with the JIDA.
Miranda Edwards said she visited the proposed sites and described environmental and health concerns she believes are associated with “fluid stack” data centers, including heat-island effects, reported noise extending up to two miles at some sites, chemical runoff and use of PFAS in cooling systems. She told the board she had received limited answers from the developer’s representative at the last meeting and urged the board to engage nearby residents and consider zoning options to prevent long-term loss of farmland and habitat.
Board members did not adopt new policy during public comment; staff later said the planning commission had reviewed public input and that staff will return with mapping and revised language for the planning commission and board to consider. There was no immediate staff response in the record that changed the technical figures cited by commenters.
The board scheduled continued review of planning and mapping work for August and indicated it will present more information at the July planning commission meeting and the July 14 board meeting.
