Data centers are changing the landscape. Here’s how they may affect rural Virginia. – Cardinal News

This Cardinal News investigation examines how data center development is spreading from Northern Virginia into rural Southside communities like Pittsylvania County, documenting residents' concerns about farmland loss, water consumption of up to 5 million gallons per day, persistent noise pollution, diesel generator emissions, electronic waste, and wildlife habitat destruction. Drawing on interviews with residents, environmental experts, and officials in Pittsylvania and Prince William counties, the article highlights the tension between potential tax revenue and the environmental and quality-of-life costs these massive facilities impose on communities with limited enforcement capacity.