Coalition to Save Culpeper
Protect the rural, historic character of Culpeper for the citizens of today and generations to come.
Data Center Alley is
Coming to Culpeper
ATTENTION
We're starting off the year on a really positive note! Virginia Senator Russet Perry (31st District -- Loudoun and Fauquier) on Tuesday hosted a great press conference on the need for legislation around data centers. She was joined by a bipartisan group of fellow senators and delegates who represented both rural and suburban districts. They did an amazing job of describing the need for the four pillars approach to dealing with the industry and all of the associated issues, and how legislation they’ve put forward helps to meet those goals.
Here are the materials from the event.
I urge you to watch the recording (approximately 50 minutes) and check out the news coverage.
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Slideshow (these visuals were used for the posters in the room)
Coverage so far:
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WTVR:
https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/regulate-virginia-data-centers-jan-14-2025 -
States Newsroom:
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/data-center-boom-continues-va-legislators-broach-new-regulations
Now, for those of you who follow the news diligently, you may have heard the bad news, too. President Biden issued an executive order on data centers.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/biden-doe-dod-lease-sites-ai-data-centers-clean-energy/737257/
Here in Culpeper -- home of the Culpeper Minutemen -- we will not be deterred in voicing our concerns about the rapid, unchecked growth of data centers in Virginia and especially our community. As such,
we will be participating in Lobby Day in Richmond on January 20.
If you want to add your voice to the growing number of us who want data center industry reform, please come with us. Send an email and I'll get back with you immediately.
This rampant industrialization may drive away valuable tourism dollars if Culpeper is no longer the quiet, picturesque town people want to visit.
Lured by the siren song of tax revenue, Culpeper’s elected officials have approved over 12 million square feet of new data center campuses, an area roughly the equivalent of 64 Walmart Supercenters. These massive facilities will be built next to our homes, our historic district, and even our National Cemetery—the final resting place of over 14,000 American Service Members—permanently industrializing our rural community.
A data center is not just a warehouse full of computers. Data centers include extensive cooling systems to keep the computers from overheating, massive backup generators to keep the facility running if the local power goes out, and acres of electrical substations. All this equipment produces constant noise pollution which is proven to harm the mental and physical health of those living nearby—not the sort of development you would want to see next to your house.
A New Threat: The Culpeper Technology Campus
The Culpeper Technology Campus (CTC) is a proposed data center development within the Town of Culpeper, next to the proposed Copper Ridge data center. The CTC consists of eight, 70-foot tall data centers and two substations all of which will produce constant noise. Since the Town Council originally signed off on this project, the developer has made lots of changes to the original plan–including moving one of the data centers, adding a 205-foot tall water tower, and now weakening the noise standards they previously agreed to in 2023.
Proximity of Culpeper data centers to community establishments
Credit: Piedmont Environmental Council
We want the Town to push back on these changes and increase protections for our citizens!
Copper Ridge Data Centers – Six Massive Buildings to Loom Over The National Cemetery And Our Downtown
In September 2023, in a nearly unanimous vote, our Town Council voted to approve the rezoning of currently vacant land on East Chandler Street from residential to light industrial, opening the door to the St. Mawes development company to build over two (2) million square feet of data centers. According to their plan, referred to as the Copper Ridge development, the highest promontory in our Town will house six (6) massive warehouses, each the size of the Walmart supercenter, but two to three times as tall. In addition to their visual impact on the landscape, these hulking buildings will require twenty times the power of the town of Culpeper, delivered through new powerlines and two enormous substations adjacent to the National Cemetery. The development could also threaten our water supply and its noise could disrupt the National Cemetery, impact Culpeper’s tourist industry, and even affect the health of adjacent residents.
It is not clear why our local officials have promoted and supported this development. Presumably, the dangling promise of tax dollars has outweighed the strenuous objections of local residents and veterans’ organizations. However, we must say no to this misguided idea. We – the taxpayers, businesses and property owners -- need to take a stand against the unfettered proliferation of this industry so close to the National Cemetery, our historic district, residential neighborhoods, schools, daycare centers and
other unwitting victims of poor decision-making. We MUST stand against this. Read how this happened, CLICK HERE.