ROANOKE CO., Va. – It’s official. The company looking to build a data center in Roanoke County is Google. Today I talked with economic development officials and a representative of a neighborhood across the street.
“We’re confirming today that Google is evaluating a potential data center facility in the Woodhaven Technology Park, said John Hull, executive director of the Western Va. Regional Industrial Facility Authority.
The Western Virginia Regional Industrial Facility Authority confirmed just before its meeting Friday morning, October 16, 2026, that Google is the company evaluating the land at Wood Haven Technology Park. Previously, Clearview Dynamics LLC was the only company identified in connection with the project.
“Today is the first confirmation that Google is the entity that is securing land control and investigating by way of a due diligence period a potential project,” Hull said.
The idea of a data center is unpopular with those who live nearby.
Yard signs saying “No Data Center” in Whitney Estates along Woodhaven Road are evidence of the neighborhood’s concern.
“Health concerns as well as noise issues, things of that nature,” said Nancy Hughes, Whitney Estates HOA President.
Hughes says neighbors are concerned about the potential health effects of living near a data Center.
“We live across the street, and the data is showing that you should be at least two miles away from a property for safety reasons,” she said.
Roanoke County Administrator Richard Caywood says it will take about 180 days before Google will know if it wants to proceed with the project. He says covenants are already in place to protect the value of homes in the area should they drop because of the project as well as other protections.
“But that would be things like noise, appearance, and factors like that, that we have a strong commitment to protect the neighbors,” Caywood said.
Woodhaven is a 111-acre parcel that mostly abuts Interstate 81 on one side and Woodhaven Road on the other. Hull confirmed that Google is still reviewing its options on the space and that there is still no deal to move forward with a data center.
