Data centers may prove to be the most important story of this decade. Telling it well demands mastering facts, while piecing together a richer, contextual story.
UMW Fredericksburg Regional Alliance's Curry Roberts is THE one who came up with the idea to 'socialize' Fredericksburg's PTA, the teachers' association and the NAACP to 'the positives' of DATA CENTERS. Vice Mayor Chuck Frye, Councilors Gerlach and Holmes were assigned this task. (FOIAed email 10-1-2024).
and here they came out to the 2-25-25 public comment mic, wearing their 3"-pin-back buttons, in James Monroe HS colors of orange and black, braying 'I support DATA CENTERS!'.
Some of them did catch those of us who had taken the time to learn both sides (forums, lit review, on-site PW backyards near DATA CENTERS) as we were leaving Council at 1 AM on the sidewalk outside Council Chambers. This was after a 7-0 ALL IN, done deal rah-rah vote, almost shaken in disbelief, that they did not know 'the other side of the story' to the drawbacks of DATA CENTERS.
and thanks to Bill Wright, activist in Prince William County who took the time to answer Fredericksburg Neighborhoods Coalition's emails to the truth re: these 'silent killers'.
Bill gave us the info to show the DATA CENTER industry strategies of how these poison Goaliths try to fool the David stakeholders.
We had not either, until early 2024 when a new friend on LinkedIn reached out and wanted to have a conversation about DATA CENTERS. He was curious about what was happening in Prince William County and Northern Va.
After an extensive discussion, he said "Virginia looks like it is headed for tombstone legislation."
In response, the Coalition member replied, "I have never heard the terminology, but it doesn't take much imagination to understand the underlying meaning. Legislation won't happen until someone ends up dead. Is that correct?"
Reply "Yes. Exactly."
Well, here we are folks. And, for any elected leaders to feign ignorance or shock at all the facts that point toward a crisis, it simply doesn't pass the smell test. We have all been warning of an unfolding crisis - to our air, our water, our faith in local governance, and our overall quality of life.
Many local and regional nonprofits, including the Coalition to Protect PWC, have been shouting this from the rooftops. We are relieved to see a major newspaper bring the facts and science.
Let transparency and accountability steer these critical public conversations!
'As DATA CENTERS boom, Virginians breathe the exhaust of 10,000 diesel generators (5-28-26)
- The Washington Post
"Diesel exhaust contains nitrogen oxides, which help form smog, and fine particulate matter, including soot, which are linked to respiratory and heart disease. DATA CENTER generators in Virginia could trigger 14,000 episodes of asthma symptoms each year, according to a separate study from researchers at the University of California at Riverside and the California Institute of Technology that is undergoing peer review."
“When you look at the cumulative effect of all these DATA CENTERS close together, the result is significant exposure to communities nearby,” said Damian Pitt, associate director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment at Virginia Commonwealth University, who obtained the emissions permits from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. “What we found particularly shocking is that it is even more pollution than you would have living near a large natural gas power plant.”
"Wright (no relation to PW activist Bill) told Bloomberg in December that he wants to “unleash” the dozens of gigawatts of diesel generation that is largely sitting idle at DATA CENTERS to power the vast expansion of AI infrastructure.“The massive DATA CENTER build out over the next few years — most of it we can meet with generators,” he said.
Virginia has permitted enough of the generators to create 27 gigawatts of power, roughly the equivalent of 27 LARGE NUCLEAR REACTORS."
and look who has to put up with that proximity. It's part of the DATA CENTER billion-dollar industry's 'playbook' to locate them near communities of 'historically marginalized' folks, as is projected for the children and their families living in the apts in 'Celebrate Virginia' where the Technology Overlay District will have 8-12 DATA CENTERS going in. Three of which surround the apts on 3 sides.
Contrast that image with the 'socialized' commenters at the city's 2-25-25 Council mic, fervent but misled, in keeping them ignorant: 'It's for the schools! It's for the children!'.
The fact that Slack funds your data center series, the electrician’s Union (major data center supporters) helps fund the Advance and Charlie Payne (Godfather of the regional data centers) is on you advisory board gives lie to your objectivity and transparency on your reporting.
UMW Fredericksburg Regional Alliance's Curry Roberts is THE one who came up with the idea to 'socialize' Fredericksburg's PTA, the teachers' association and the NAACP to 'the positives' of DATA CENTERS. Vice Mayor Chuck Frye, Councilors Gerlach and Holmes were assigned this task. (FOIAed email 10-1-2024).
and here they came out to the 2-25-25 public comment mic, wearing their 3"-pin-back buttons, in James Monroe HS colors of orange and black, braying 'I support DATA CENTERS!'.
Some of them did catch those of us who had taken the time to learn both sides (forums, lit review, on-site PW backyards near DATA CENTERS) as we were leaving Council at 1 AM on the sidewalk outside Council Chambers. This was after a 7-0 ALL IN, done deal rah-rah vote, almost shaken in disbelief, that they did not know 'the other side of the story' to the drawbacks of DATA CENTERS.
and thanks to Bill Wright, activist in Prince William County who took the time to answer Fredericksburg Neighborhoods Coalition's emails to the truth re: these 'silent killers'.
Bill gave us the info to show the DATA CENTER industry strategies of how these poison Goaliths try to fool the David stakeholders.
Here's the latest from:
The Coalition to Protect Prince William County
ProtectPWC.org
Dear Coalition Friends and Supporters,
Ever heard the term "Tombstone Legislation" - ?
We had not either, until early 2024 when a new friend on LinkedIn reached out and wanted to have a conversation about DATA CENTERS. He was curious about what was happening in Prince William County and Northern Va.
After an extensive discussion, he said "Virginia looks like it is headed for tombstone legislation."
In response, the Coalition member replied, "I have never heard the terminology, but it doesn't take much imagination to understand the underlying meaning. Legislation won't happen until someone ends up dead. Is that correct?"
Reply "Yes. Exactly."
Well, here we are folks. And, for any elected leaders to feign ignorance or shock at all the facts that point toward a crisis, it simply doesn't pass the smell test. We have all been warning of an unfolding crisis - to our air, our water, our faith in local governance, and our overall quality of life.
Many local and regional nonprofits, including the Coalition to Protect PWC, have been shouting this from the rooftops. We are relieved to see a major newspaper bring the facts and science.
Let transparency and accountability steer these critical public conversations!
'As DATA CENTERS boom, Virginians breathe the exhaust of 10,000 diesel generators (5-28-26)
- The Washington Post
"Diesel exhaust contains nitrogen oxides, which help form smog, and fine particulate matter, including soot, which are linked to respiratory and heart disease. DATA CENTER generators in Virginia could trigger 14,000 episodes of asthma symptoms each year, according to a separate study from researchers at the University of California at Riverside and the California Institute of Technology that is undergoing peer review."
“When you look at the cumulative effect of all these DATA CENTERS close together, the result is significant exposure to communities nearby,” said Damian Pitt, associate director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment at Virginia Commonwealth University, who obtained the emissions permits from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. “What we found particularly shocking is that it is even more pollution than you would have living near a large natural gas power plant.”
"Wright (no relation to PW activist Bill) told Bloomberg in December that he wants to “unleash” the dozens of gigawatts of diesel generation that is largely sitting idle at DATA CENTERS to power the vast expansion of AI infrastructure.“The massive DATA CENTER build out over the next few years — most of it we can meet with generators,” he said.
Virginia has permitted enough of the generators to create 27 gigawatts of power, roughly the equivalent of 27 LARGE NUCLEAR REACTORS."
and look who has to put up with that proximity. It's part of the DATA CENTER billion-dollar industry's 'playbook' to locate them near communities of 'historically marginalized' folks, as is projected for the children and their families living in the apts in 'Celebrate Virginia' where the Technology Overlay District will have 8-12 DATA CENTERS going in. Three of which surround the apts on 3 sides.
Contrast that image with the 'socialized' commenters at the city's 2-25-25 Council mic, fervent but misled, in keeping them ignorant: 'It's for the schools! It's for the children!'.
Hmmmm, Whose children?
The fact that Slack funds your data center series, the electrician’s Union (major data center supporters) helps fund the Advance and Charlie Payne (Godfather of the regional data centers) is on you advisory board gives lie to your objectivity and transparency on your reporting.
Sure wish 'FXBG Advance' would just be consistent in putting in the DISCLAIMER statement.