Chesterfield Hosts Data Center Forum Oct. 27
TL;DR: Chesterfield County will host a public forum on October 27 to discuss data center development, featuring representatives from Google, Chirisa, and Dominion Energy.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield County; Google, Chirisa, Dominion Energy representatives; Dean Lynch, executive director of Virginia Association of Counties
- What: Community forum with moderated panel discussion and Q&A on data center development
- When: Tuesday, October 27, 6-8 p.m.
- Where: Brightpoint Community College's Chester Campus, 13101 Route 1
The story
Chesterfield County will host a community forum on data center development on Tuesday, October 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Brightpoint Community College's Chester Campus, 13101 Route 1. The event will feature a moderated panel discussion followed by a Q&A session where residents can ask questions directly to industry experts.
Dean Lynch, executive director of the Virginia Association of Counties, will moderate the discussion. Representatives from Google, Chirisa, and Dominion Energy will participate to address community questions about data center development in the county.
The forum responds to sustained resident interest in data center projects reshaping the county's landscape. Chesterfield has pursued data center development as part of an economic diversification strategy, moving away from the county's historical reliance on residential real estate taxes. Google is emerging as the county's largest single commercial taxpayer through its three planned campuses, expected to generate approximately $40 million in annual tax revenue once fully operational. Chirisa is also developing multiple facilities in the county.
The public is invited to attend. For more information, residents can visit Chesterfield.gov/DataCenters.
Key players
- Chesterfield County: Host of the public forum
- Google: Data center developer with multiple planned campuses in Chesterfield
- Chirisa: Data center developer with facilities in Chesterfield
- Dominion Energy: Energy provider for data center operations
- Dean Lynch: Moderator; executive director of Virginia Association of Counties
Key dates
- 2026-10-27: Data Center Community Forum at Brightpoint Community College's Chester Campus, 6-8 p.m.
The case for
Data centers represent a significant economic opportunity for Chesterfield, bringing substantial new commercial tax revenue to fund county services, infrastructure, and programs while diversifying the tax base beyond residential real estate.
The case against
Data center development raises concerns about impacts on water usage, energy consumption, traffic, and the character of neighborhoods as industrial facilities expand across the county.
Why it matters: As data center projects reshape the county's economy and landscape, the forum gives residents a direct opportunity to engage with decision-makers and industry representatives on a topic central to Chesterfield's future and their own communities.
Places
- Brightpoint Community College's Chester Campus
- Meadowville Technology Park
- Upper Magnolia Green
- Bermuda Hundred Road
Development timeline
- 2026-10-27Chesterfield Data Center Community Forum: Public forum featuring moderated panel with Google, Chirisa, and Dominion Energy representatives; Q&A with residents [source]
Related links
Read the original at Chesterfield County News →