Google confronts skepticism over Chesterfield data centers

As Google prepares to build three massive data center campuses in Chesterfield, it's making its biggest public outreach effort yet.

Why it matters: With county approvals in hand, its next battle is earning trust as residents call for more transparency.

Catch up quick: Google's $9 billion Virginia expansion includes Project Peanut in Chester, now under construction.

• The company is still working through state and federal permitting for the two other Chesterfield sites: Projects Skye and Loch.

The latest: After years of behind-the-scenes planning, roughly 600 people showed up to Google's two open houses in western Chesterfield last week.

• Residents bounced between stations staffed by engineers, consultants and Google representatives, with displays explaining water use, electricity costs, air quality and noise.

What they're saying: "I'm not here to change anybody's mind," Google public affairs manager Clay Allsop told Axios. "I'm just here to provide the facts."

Friction point: Google focused on how its data centers will operate, highlighting workforce training, community partnerships and its commitment to paying its own infrastructure costs so it doesn't fall on ratepayers.

• But many residents wanted answers about how the projects reached this point — and how much water they'll ultimately use. Allsop says Google won't know the exact water demand until the campuses are operational.

Zoom in: Opponents have long criticized Google and Chesterfield's use of non-disclosure agreements during negotiations, arguing residents weren't brought into the conversation until major approvals were in place — a claim the county has denied.

• "A lot of people were blindsided when the Google announcement came out because the zoning was already done and packaged up," said Courtney Bernhardt, a Chesterfield resident and organizer with Data Center Defiance, a local opposition coalition.
• And many left the open houses with the same questions they came with, said Katherine McMahon, a Midlothian resident with the coalition who lives between Project Skye and Project Loch.

• The coalition wants a town hall instead. Allsop said Google believes the open house format reaches the most people.

Meanwhile, construction labor unions stationed at the events made the economic case for the projects.

• "There are thousands of families in the Richmond area who have food on their table and a roof over their head ... because of projects like this," said Walt Goree, an organizer with IBEW Local 666.

What's next: Data Center Defiance plans to bring its concerns to this week's Chesterfield Board of Supervisors meeting and deliver a petition with over 2,000 signatures calling for more transparency in future data center deals.