Chesterfield Pauses Data Center Expansion
TL;DR: Chesterfield County's Board of Supervisors signaled they will not approve new data center projects beyond Google's three approved campuses, citing infrastructure constraints and community concerns.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors; Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider
- What: Board halts appetite for new data center projects; states Google's three campuses will be the only ones approved under current leadership
- When: July 2026
- Where: Chesterfield County
The story
Chesterfield County's Board of Supervisors has signaled a sharp turn away from approving new data center projects, marking a significant shift from the county's previous expansion trajectory. According to Clover Hill District Supervisor Jessica Schneider, "the current board does not have an appetite for any more data centers," a statement indicating that Google's three approved data center campuses will be the only major projects approved under the current board's tenure.
This decision reflects mounting concerns about infrastructure capacity and community opposition. In January 2026, the Board of Supervisors changed the county's zoning ordinance to require all new data center projects to obtain conditional use approval rather than being permitted automatically on light industrial properties. Previously, data centers were allowed "by right," meaning developers could proceed without case-by-case board approval.
The policy shift has already affected pending projects. On June 3, the Chesterfield County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously rejected an appeal by Washington Single Family Fund, which sought to develop a data center on a 90-acre property near Interstate 95 in the Bermuda District. The applicant had filed before the January 1 ordinance change but lacked what the county deemed a "vested right" under the new rules. Another private data center project has been stalled by zoning lawsuits related to the ordinance change.
Public sentiment supports the cautious stance. A VCU poll released in July 2026 found that 81% of registered voters support requiring data centers to pay additional fees to offset increased electricity demand, reflecting widespread concern about the strain these facilities place on the region's power infrastructure. Support crossed political lines, with Democrats at 88% and Republicans at 69% backing such requirements.
Despite the stated moratorium on new approvals, Google's three major campuses—Project Peanut, Project Skye, and Project Loch—represent a $9 billion investment and will eventually account for 1,500 acres across the county. Project Peanut is already under construction at 2100 Bermuda Hundred Road in Chester. Projects Skye and Loch occupy sites purchased by Google in 2025, including an 880-acre property at Upper Magnolia Green and a 350-acre section of Watkins Centre South near Route 288. Google held public open houses in mid-July 2026 to present the projects to residents, with hundreds in attendance.
The board's position underscores tension between welcoming major economic investment and managing the infrastructure and environmental impacts such projects create. The moratorium applies only to new approvals; Google's previously greenlit projects continue to advance through permitting and construction.
Key players
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: Governing body that changed zoning ordinance and stated position against additional data center approvals
- Jessica Schneider: Clover Hill District Supervisor who publicly stated the board has no appetite for more data centers
- Google: Major tech company with three approved $9 billion data center projects in Chesterfield County
The case for
Supporting the board's decision: Data center expansion places significant strain on local electricity infrastructure and water resources. A strong majority of county voters (81%, per a VCU poll) believe data centers should pay additional fees to offset their electricity demands. The board's cautious approach protects finite infrastructure capacity and aligns with resident concerns about rising power costs and grid reliability. Conditional use approval allows the board to evaluate each project against actual capacity, rather than granting blanket permission to every developer.
The case against
Opposing the board's decision: Data centers drive major economic investment, job creation, and tax revenue for the county. Google's $9 billion commitment brings substantial benefits that would be unavailable if the county had pursued a blanket ban. The January 2026 zoning change creates uncertainty for property owners who planned developments under the old rules, potentially undermining property rights and investor confidence. A selective approval process favoring large, established operators over smaller companies may reduce market competition and innovation in the sector.
Why it matters: The decision will shape Chesterfield's growth for years. Halting new data center approvals manages electricity demand and protects infrastructure from overload, but it also limits future tax revenue and economic development that such projects could bring. Residents will feel the impact through electricity rates and service reliability if data centers strain the grid, or through lost development opportunities if the county becomes seen as hostile to the industry.
Places
Development timeline
- 2025-09Board of Supervisors approves zoning ordinance changes: County approved comprehensive zoning ordinance overhaul to take effect January 1, 2026 [[source]](https://www.richmonder.org/july-20-newsletter-making-an-indoor-splash/)
- 2026-01-01New data center zoning rules take effect: Data centers countywide become conditional use, requiring case-by-case board approval instead of being permitted automatically [[source]](https://www.richmonder.org/july-20-newsletter-making-an-indoor-splash/)
- 2026-06-03Board of Zoning Appeals rejects data center appeal: Chesterfield County Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously rejected appeal by Washington Single Family Fund for proposed data center on 90-acre property near I-95 in Bermuda District [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/06/03/chesterfield-board-upholds-denial-bermuda-district-data-center/)
- 2026-06-26Board of Supervisors meeting with resident concerns: Residents voiced concerns about data center development during board meeting, citing more than 15 data centers in operation or under development across county [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/06/26/people-raise-concerns-about-data-center-development-chesterfield/)
- 2026-07VCU Commonwealth Poll released: VCU poll finds 81% of registered voters support requiring data centers to pay additional fees to offset electricity demand [[source]](https://news.vcu.edu/article/voters-oppose-sales-tax-exemption-for-data-centers-new-commonwealth-poll-finds)
- 2026-07-16Google data center open house: Hundreds of residents attended Google's public open house to learn about the three proposed data center campuses (Projects Peanut, Skye, and Loch) [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2026/07/16/google-data-center-open-house-draws-hundreds-chesterfield-county/)
Related links
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
- VCU Commonwealth Poll (July 2026) on Data Centers
- Chesterfield County Data Center Tracker
Read the original at The Richmonder →
Sources
- Richmonder.org: July 20 Newsletter (Google's Chesterfield data center arrives amid shifting opinions)
- 12 On Your Side: Chesterfield board upholds denial of Bermuda District data center
- 12 On Your Side: People raise concerns about data center development in Chesterfield
- 12 On Your Side: Google data center open house draws hundreds
- VCU News: Voters oppose sales tax exemption for data centers
- Chesterfield County: In Google, Chesterfield landed the 'Rolls-Royce of data center operators'
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors
- Chesterfield Report: Data Center Tracker