Data center will harm butterflies, bats
Project raspberry! What a sweet name for an abomination about to come to Botetourt County.
I shop every Saturday at the Grandin Farmer’s Market (GFM), a subset of LEAP (Local Environmental Agriculture Project). LEAP is a nonprofit centered in Roanoke. Per their website, and I am quoting: “that supports farmers, and fresh, local food for all.” By all, they include those in the community who are financially comfortable and the underserved. This is a win-win for local farmers including those in Botetourt County.
What do farmers need? Electricity: Data centers increase electric rates in the communities where they locate. Farmers need water. This plan is to use the water from the area’s supply at Carvins Cove. Have the planners looked into how this will directly affect the people of both the Botetourt and Roanoke communities?
But these are not my issues with this data center– albeit concerning. My concerns are about two species; first, the Monarch Butterfly, and second, the Indiana Bat. Both of these species are of paramount importance to the farmers of the area. Farmers who earn income from their crops and provide food to the community. Farmers who raise their families in these communities, shop at local retailers, eat at local restaurants, and use services– like electricity and water. They provide to the local economy. They send their children to local schools and become not just a family, but generations living off the land and providing for their neighbors.
The Monarch Butterfly is a pollinator. As we know, crops require pollination. When you endanger a species, you endanger the farmers’ livelihood, the livelihood of the community.
The Indiana Bat resides in this area as well. Bats have such a bad reputation– kinda like data centers. But did you know they feed on pests such as the mosquito? In my opinion, that is reason alone to have them. But for farmers, they eat other pests such as beetles, which can do serious damage to crops.
I hope that Google will consider time for consideration of these matters and allow for public comments about this center in near future.
Carrie Ferguson
Roanoke
Thanks Rottman for questioning budget items
I would like to commend Linda Rottman, Buchanan District supervisor, for bringing up budget items and questioning where the county is spending our money. It was obvious at the latest Board of Supervisors meeting Ms. Rottman has studied the budget and is not accepting business as usual when it comes to county expenditures.
Thank you, Ms. Rottman, for being the only supervisor to investigate specific expenses. It shows you care about your constituents.
Sharon Porter
Troutville
Letter alarmed by data center
I don’t know what section of the newspaper this should be published in, letters to the editor or obituaries. Because, I feel the decision of a data center is the demise of Botetourt County as we know it.
Our county administrator and the Board of Supervisors have approved a hyperscale data center on 300 acres in Daleville. There was no community input or vote on this decision. It was all done under the cover of a non-disclosure agreement. They tell us it’s going to be built in the industrial park in Greenfield Center. Unfortunately, the industrial park sits in the middle of our community. Many homes will be within a one-mile radius. The sports complex and soccer fields are a half of a mile away and the elementary school is less than a mile away.
The water and electric usage for a hyperscale data center is alarming. Water usage is from 2-8 million gallons daily and data centers are major energy consumers. The diesel-fueled backup generators release nitrogen oxides which is linked to many health risks. Rooftop cooling systems and backup generators create a constant low frequency hum, which may exceed 90 decibels. The night time lighting has negative impacts on the environment, human health and the visibility of the night sky.
After all of this, our only benefit is an increase our tax revenue. How much money is worth our quality of life? We are told not to worry about any of this. How is it that Botetourt County can solve all these problems that come with a data center, when across the country none of these problems have been solved.
Petitions have been signed and submitted to the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors to request a 6 p.m. meeting so that the citizens can voice their concerns. Please contact your district supervisor to request this meeting.
Linda Mikalauskas
Amsterdam
