Community members and advocates called for an immediate statewide pause on new data center approvals
VIRGINIA BEACH — Residents and advocates hosted yesterday a March for a Moratorium in Virginia Beach at Town Center, calling on state leaders to pause approvals for new data centers across Virginia. The event brought together residents, community advocates (and one anti-data center donkey) to demand a pause and stronger statewide safeguards before additional data centers move forward.
“We are watching an unprecedented expansion of data centers across our commonwealth, and while corporations are making enormous profits, Virginia families are being asked to accept the risks: Higher electricity costs, greater demand on our power grid, environmental consequences, and the loss of land that our communities can never get back,” said Melissa Lukeson, a lead community organizer with the Coastal Virginia (COVA) Coalition.
The Hampton Roads action was a part of a two-week statewide series across Virginia, mobilizing participants to oppose the reckless, rushed expansion of large data centers and demand strong protections. At the Virginia Beach event, attendees rallied, highlighted recent local fights against data centers in Hampton Roads, and explained why state leaders must enact a moratorium before approving more energy-and water-intensive facilities.
“Virginians are fed up. They’re tired of a system where Big Tech can do whatever they want without consequence, cashing in while Virginians bear the costs – in lost home values, higher energy bills, lower quality of life, and communities changed forever,” said Catherine Setaro, Hampton Roads Field Manager with the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. “Until we have strong laws on the books that hold data centers to clean energy and environmental standards that protect and respect local communities, no more data centers should be approved or built in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
Virginia’s rapid data-center expansion is placing growing pressure on water resources, electric grid, and nearby communities. The campaign calls for a pause that would give policymakers time to establish meaningful protections for residents, public health, the environment, affordability, and transparent local decision-making.
“I have been amazed at just how quickly this issue has captured the attention of so many advocates and community members here in Hampton Roads,” said Michelle Ueltschi, Hampton Roads Organizer with CCAN Action Fund. “The desire to slow down data center growth crosses boundaries like no other issue I’ve worked on as an activist. That’s the clearest message we are sending to our lawmakers through this event: that we are united and ready to fight for the well-being of our communities here in Hampton Roads.”
The Hampton Roads March for Moratorium was sponsored by CCAN Action Fund, Save the Dismal, Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Coastal Virginia Sierra Club, COVA Coalition and Center for Sustainable Communities. For more information and to see other events in the March for a Moratorium, visit the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund’s March for a Moratorium page here.