By Matt de Simone
Organized opposition to the proposed Google data center campus in Botetourt County continues to grow as the project advances through the early stages of planning, with supporters and critics increasingly making their case over what many consider one of the most consequential economic development proposals in the county’s history.
Nearly a year after Google announced plans for a hyperscale data center campus at Greenfield, the company says the project remains in the design, engineering and permitting phase while residents continue debating what the development could mean for Botetourt’s future.
Fueled by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, data center construction has accelerated across Virginia, placing Botetourt at the center of a broader conversation about balancing economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and the county’s rural character.
That debate was on full display during Google’s June 17 community open house at Lord Botetourt High School. Hundreds of residents visited information stations staffed by representatives from Google, the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA), Appalachian Power and Botetourt County to ask questions about water usage, electrical infrastructure, environmental considerations, planning, zoning, community investment and projected tax revenue.
Outside the school, dozens of residents gathered with signs opposing the proposal, reflecting an increasingly organized movement that has emerged over the past year.
Although the project continues moving through federal, state and local review processes, Google representatives emphasized that many aspects of the proposal remain preliminary and subject to change as engineering work continues.
Much of the organized opposition has centered on the Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance, or SWVA DCTA, a grassroots organization advocating for greater public oversight and additional regulations for hyperscale data centers.
Julie Bivins, one of the organization’s founders, said she became concerned almost immediately after learning of Google’s plans.
“I remember when I heard that announcement, immediately being like, ‘Oh no. We don’t want that here,'” Bivins said.
Although she lives in Roanoke, Bivins said concerns about regional water resources and the possibility of additional hyperscale data centers across Southwest Virginia motivated her involvement.
“Our main goals are to empower communities here in Southwest Virginia to work with local governments and our state government to increase regulations,” she said. “We want to mitigate damage to communities from these projects. We want additional oversight. We want to make sure there are ratepayer protections in place.”
Bivins said her organization is not opposed to technology but believes projects of this scale should move forward with greater transparency. She said Google’s June open house was a positive step but left many residents seeking additional information about water planning, electrical demand, noise, and future infrastructure improvements.
“If Google and the county addressed every concern related to water use,” she said, “that would be a win.”
Botetourt County resident Sylvia Powell said her concerns developed only after researching the proposal.
“I was curious about the proposed project from when it was first announced,” Powell said. “At first, I made no decision as to whether I thought the project had positive or negative implications for my community.”
Powell, whose academic background includes field biology, said environmental impacts remain her primary concern.
“I am concerned about both its immediate and long-term potential environmental impacts, which are inseparable from its cultural impacts,” she said. “People here chose to live near the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the rivers and creeks. They did not choose to live with an environmentally destructive data center hub.”
She said the project’s environmental review deserves close public scrutiny, particularly regarding wetlands, streams and groundwater.
Kathryn J. Hatam, another Botetourt County resident involved with SWVA DCTA, said she believes significant questions remain about environmental impacts, future expansion and long-term planning.
“What is the actual truth?” Hatam asked, saying she would like additional documentation regarding cooling systems, expansion plans and project timelines before construction begins.
Hatam said the project remains subject to multiple regulatory reviews and believes county officials could continue pressing for greater transparency and additional mitigation measures before construction begins.
Google representatives acknowledged many of those concerns during the June open house while emphasizing that the project remains in its early stages.
In follow-up responses, Google said it is working with Botetourt County officials and WVWA to ensure infrastructure improvements needed for the project are funded without shifting costs to local taxpayers.
“We are working very closely with WVWA and county officials to ensure our infrastructure needs align with local capacity and protect residents,” a Google spokesperson said. “Google has committed to paying for water infrastructure needs for this project.”
Google said facilities of similar size typically employ about 400 workers in positions paying approximately $86,000 to more than $100,000 annually and that the company intends to continue engaging with residents throughout the permitting process. The company also emphasized that construction has not yet been scheduled.
County officials said they understand why the proposal has generated significant public interest but believe discussions should be based on verified information as the review process continues.
Board of Supervisors Chair Mac Scothorn said the county welcomes public engagement because the proposed campus represents the largest economic development opportunity in Botetourt County’s history, while also involving a type of development unfamiliar to much of the region.
“We encourage engagement, but we also want citizens to know not all data centers are built the same,” Scothorn said. “While we believe discussions should occur about projects in the county, we also believe those discussions should be grounded in facts, not fear.”
Scothorn added that supervisors would not support a project they believed would harm the community they represent.
County Administrator Gary Larrowe said Google still must complete engineering reviews and obtain all applicable county, state and federal permits before development can begin. While Google owns the property and it is already properly zoned, he said the remaining approvals are administrative rather than legislative.
“The Board of Supervisors does not vote on individual grading plans, permits or engineering approvals,” Larrowe said. “Those reviews are conducted by professional staff and regulatory agencies.”
Photos by Matt de Simone
Based on information shared by Google during its June open house, Larrowe said initial site work could begin in late summer or early fall if the required reviews are completed.
Scothorn also said preserving Botetourt’s rural character has remained a priority throughout the planning process. He noted the proposed campus is located within the existing Greenfield Business Park rather than in agricultural or rural areas and pointed to comments from Blue Ridge Land Conservancy Executive Director David Perry, who praised the county’s planning approach for concentrating industrial growth along the U.S. 220 corridor while helping protect farmland and natural resources.
Larrowe also addressed one of the most common concerns raised by opponents: water.
He said the project’s Utility Services Funding Agreement specifically prohibits Google from using private well water, a misconception he said has circulated throughout the public debate.
“The campus would receive treated public water from WVWA’s regional water system, not from private wells or residential groundwater sources,” Larrowe said. “Before any new industry can receive service, WVWA and state regulators must determine that sufficient water infrastructure exists or will be developed without negatively reducing service to current customers.”
Looking back on the past year, Scothorn said the project underscored the need for county leaders to better explain the planning and economic development process before large projects become public.
He said the county followed the same process required for any major economic development proposal, including public meetings, legally required notices and opportunities for public comment. However, he acknowledged many residents did not become engaged until Google’s plans attracted widespread attention.
“That has reinforced the need to communicate earlier, explain the process more clearly, and provide factual information that helps residents understand not only what decisions are being made, but when and how those decisions occur,” Scothorn said.
Botetourt resident Bob Patterson, meanwhile, believes the proposal represents exactly the type of industry Greenfield Business Park was created to attract.
“Industries are attracted to an industrial park and choose to locate there,” Patterson said.
He believes much of the public discussion has focused on worst-case scenarios rather than verified information.
“I believe there is enough verifiable information for Botetourt County citizens to know what to expect,” Patterson said, citing projected tax revenue, high-paying jobs and the potential to help keep local tax rates lower.
At the same time, Patterson acknowledged that many questions remain unanswered.
“The unanswered questions are whether those who oppose it are right, whether those who favor it are right, or whether the reality lies somewhere in between,” he said.
Former Botetourt County supervisor and current Del. Terry Austin also has voiced support for the proposal while acknowledging many of the concerns raised by residents.
In a June 24 Facebook post, Austin called the proposed campus “a significant win for Botetourt County” but said questions surrounding water usage, energy demand, infrastructure, noise and long-term community impacts are legitimate topics that deserve continued discussion. He also noted that land-use decisions ultimately rest with local government under Virginia’s Dillon Rule, while the General Assembly is responsible for broader statewide policies governing data center development.
It is clear that water usage related to the data center was the one issue consistently emerged regardless of whether residents supported or opposed the proposal.
WVWA officials maintain the regional system has sufficient capacity to serve projected residential growth as well as the proposed Google campus. According to the authority, the region currently produces about 21 million gallons of water each day, compared with roughly 23 million gallons two decades ago, despite serving significantly more customers because of improved water efficiency.
Authority officials also said Google has agreed to fund water infrastructure required specifically for the project, while Botetourt County has entered into a separate planning agreement that will allow future regional water supply studies to move forward.
Although opinions remain sharply divided, both supporters and opponents agree the project has not reached its final stage.
Federal environmental reviews, state permitting, local administrative approvals and additional engineering work all remain before construction could begin.
For supporters, the proposed campus represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to diversify Botetourt County’s tax base, attract high-paying technology jobs and generate revenue that could help fund future public needs.
For opponents, it represents an opportunity to seek greater transparency, stronger environmental protections and broader public involvement before development moves beyond the planning stage.
As Google continues refining its plans and regulatory reviews progress, the proposed campus remains one of the most closely watched development projects in Botetourt County’s history and one that is likely to shape public discussion for months, if not years, to come.
