11-Year-Old Voices Opposition to Data Centers at County Meeting
TL;DR: An 11-year-old Chesterfield resident drew a standing ovation at a Board of Supervisors meeting on July 23 after opposing Google's three proposed data center campuses, citing concerns about scale and water consumption.
Quick facts
- Who: Crew McElderry, 11-year-old Chesterfield resident; Chesterfield Board of Supervisors
- What: Child testified against Google data center proposals; received standing ovation from board
- When: July 23, 2026
- Where: Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors meeting
The story
An 11-year-old Chesterfield County resident delivered an impassioned plea against Google's proposed data center development during a July 23 meeting of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors, drawing a standing ovation from board members.
Crew McElderry, who began researching the projects after attending a county meeting in June, presented specific concerns about the scale and resource demands of the development. He noted that Project Sky, one of three planned Google data center campuses in the county, would span more than 880 acres, larger than Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion combined. He also cited water usage at a comparable Google facility in Botetourt County, which uses approximately 2 million gallons daily, enough to serve 6,667 households.
"I urge you to stand up and say no. Listen to your people and leave no trace," McElderry concluded, prompting the board's response. His mother, Leah McElderry, emphasized that he had conducted his own research and independently requested the opportunity to speak, underscoring that his remarks were entirely his own work and thinking.
Google's three proposed campuses in Chesterfield are Project Peanut at Bermuda Hundred Road (already under construction with two buildings), Project Loch near Watkins Centre South, and Project Sky in Upper Magnolia Green. The projects would collectively consume up to 8.6 million gallons of water daily once fully operational. The county has set conditions including a commitment from Google to limit daily water consumption to less than 8 percent of Chesterfield's typical capacity. The projects have received zoning approval, and once built out, Google projects they will generate more than $40 million in annual revenue to the county.
Key players
- Crew McElderry: 11-year-old resident who testified against data center projects
- Leah McElderry: Crew's mother; confirmed he conducted independent research and requested speaking opportunity
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: County governing body hearing testimony on data center proposals
- Google: Developer of three proposed data center campuses in Chesterfield County
Key dates
- June 2026: Crew McElderry attends initial county meeting on data centers, begins independent research
- July 23, 2026: Crew testifies before Chesterfield Board of Supervisors against data center proposals
The case for
Data centers represent significant economic investment and tax revenue for the county, projecting over $40 million annually; they bring employment and infrastructure development to designated industrial areas; Google has agreed to water consumption limits and efficiency measures to mitigate environmental impact.
The case against
The scale of development raises concerns about water depletion and environmental sustainability, particularly given existing regional water demands; community members worry about quality-of-life impacts from large-scale industrial development and long-term resource strain that may not be fully captured in short-term fiscal projections.
Why it matters: The moment highlights growing engagement by younger residents and families in county growth decisions, signaling that data center development is not just a municipal issue but one affecting households across generations. It also underscores the intensity of community concern about environmental and resource impacts as Chesterfield weighs major industrial projects.
Places
Development timeline
- June 2026Crew McElderry attends first county meeting: 11-year-old Chesterfield resident attends Board of Supervisors meeting discussing data center proposals and begins independent research [[source]](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/boy-speaks-out-data-centers-july-23-2026)
- July 23, 2026Crew testifies before Board of Supervisors: 11-year-old delivers testimony opposing Google data centers, highlighting Project Sky's 880-acre scale and water usage concerns; receives standing ovation from board [[source]](https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/boy-speaks-out-data-centers-july-23-2026)
Related links
- Chesterfield County Data Centers Information
- County Launches Informational Website on Data Centers
- Google Data Center Open House Coverage
Read the original at Google News: Chesterfield Data Center →
Sources
- 11-year-old stands before Chesterfield Board of Supervisors, speaks out on data centers
- Chesterfield County Data Centers
- Google data center open house draws hundreds in Chesterfield County
- Have questions about data centers in Chesterfield? County launches informational website