Tuesday February 7, 2023

EDITOR'S NOTE: Growing Pains | BEST FROM NONPROFIT JOURNALISM: Are Data Centers Bleeding Virginia's Taxpaying Citizens? | AHEAD: Fredericksburg School Board Meeting/Interview with Marci Catlett

EDITOR’S NOTE: Growing Pains

There are problems, and there are problems one wants.

F2S has a problem that every publication wants. We have a staff of one, and a growing list of readers who are not just reading, but passing along tips, commenting, and offering their writings for consideration.

The question becomes, how to manage it all?

Since losing my position at the Free Lance-Star, I’ve been searching for meaningful work while continuing to report the news as I can in this area. This week, I begin work as a middle school history teacher, and I couldn’t be more excited. However, this workload is going to mean that I’m less able to write daily for F2S.

Here’s how I’m tackling that problem.

1. Committed to Publishing - While I may have to cut back some, I will continue to prioritize publishing on local news and events. In addition to recruiting writers, I’m working on a new feature with Shaun Kenney offering a point/counterpoint approach to issues of local interest.

2. Committed to Growing the “staff” - OK, staff is probably too strong a word, but I am in negotiations to find some young, talented writers to handle some reporting. More on this coming soon.

3. Committed to the Future - F2S is just the first step in a larger plan. While I’m not prepared to go public, please know that there is a team of concerned people working very hard to take this project to the next level. We will be making an announcement about this when the parts begin to come together. So watch for it.

In the meantime, you can help by continuing to send tips. In addition, if you would like to contribute to the Sunday Morning feature, please pass along photos or poems. If you’re a writer and have something to say, send me what you have. I cannot promise publication, but will give every entry due consideration. Submit your entries to editoratf2s@gmail.com.

BEST FROM NONPROFIT JOURNALISM: Are Virginia Ratepayers and Residents Subsidizing the Data Center Industry?

By Chris Miller. Originally published in the Virginia Mercury, February 2, 2023.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Jan. 20 announcement that Amazon Web Services plans to spend $35 billion to establish multiple data center campuses across Virginia was not welcome news for all.

Here’s why: it seems that Virginia is chasing an initiative that will require our energy system size to double or triple, with ratepayers footing the bill.

Data centers are massive users of electricity. A December 2021 Virginia Department of Energy report projects that data centers will drive nearly all future electricity load growth through 2045, while combined electricity demands from every other sector (residential, industrial and non-data center commercial) would stay level or decline.

Data centers’ enormous appetite for power would require dramatically increased power generation and associated infrastructure, such as new transmission lines and electrical substations.

Who would pay?

Virginia ratepayers, of course.

What sort of numbers are we talking about?

In Loudoun County, a proliferation of data centers has led to capacity and reliability issues with the power grid currently supporting its “Data Center Alley.” As introduced, House Bill 2482 and Senate Bill 1541 would effectively label $627 million of emergency transmission upgrades to address those issues as “an ordinary extension or improvement,” removing oversight by the State Corporation Commission for a project that will ultimately be rate-based.

And that’s just one cluster; the energy transmission infrastructure cost required for a new round of data center expansion would run in the billions.

The very last paragraph of the governor’s press release mentions the creation of a “Mega Data Center Incentive Program.” This program would give Amazon “up to a 15-year extension of Data Center Sales and Use tax exemptions on qualifying equipment and enabling software,” and “up to $140 million for site and infrastructure improvements, workforce development, and other project-related costs.” HB 2479 and SB 1522 appear to set up the framework for the program. This money isn’t falling from the sky; it comes in the form of lost tax revenue for municipalities or the state, or as a direct subsidy paid by Virginia taxpayers.

Data centers are a modern reality and can be a valuable source of economic development. But when you take a hard look at the gross costs associated with these facilities, which include not only ratepayer-funded energy expenses but also largely uncompensated impacts to land, water quality and supply, and local residents, we have to pause and ask serious questions. Most importantly, who is benefiting and at what cost to Virginia taxpayers and ratepayers?

This is why The Piedmont Environmental Council and a coalition of Virginia organizations are supporting SB 1078 and Senate Joint Resolution 240, which require review of water usage and carbon emissions and a statewide study of the impacts of data center development on Virginia’s ratepayers, environment, economy, energy resources and ability to meet carbon-reduction goals.

Chris Miller is president of the Piedmont Environmental Council in Warrenton.

AHEAD: Fredericksburg School Board and Interview with Superintendent Marci Catlett

On Wednesday, we’ll offer an overview of Monday night’s Fredericksburg School Board meeting, as well as an interview with Superintendent Marci Catlett.