The Western Virginia Water Authority is responding to growing concerns from residents about the region’s water supply as plans move forward for a proposed Google data center in Botetourt County.

The state may be missing out on an estimated $1.9 billion a year because of a sales tax exemption for data centers. Lawmakers are considering scaling back or ending the incentive, which currently exempts certain equipment and software from sales tax.

The Western Virginia Water Authority is hosting an open house on Tuesday, March 10, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke, giving residents a closer look at the region’s water system and answering questions about the proposed Google data center in Botetourt County.

Botetourt County’s Planning Commission will consider a proposal Monday night to build a 5-megawatt solar facility on a 53.4-acre lot off of Roanoke Road in Fincastle. The agenda states, “33 acres of which will be leased by New Leaf Energy to construct and operate a solar energy facility.”

Residents and local leaders in Botetourt County are once again raising questions about transparency and public involvement as the community navigates major development projects, including a proposed Google data center and the Rocky Forge Wind Project.

A proposed Google data center campus in Botetourt County could use between 2 million and 8 million gallons of drinking water per day, according to an executed agreement between the developer and the Western Virginia Water Authority.

Leaders in Botetourt County are reviewing ways to refinance and restructure infrastructure funding as they consider a policy that could directly affect the proposed Google data center and other large developments.

Construction is underway on the Rocky Forge Wind Project, Virginia’s first land-based wind farm, located in Botetourt County.

A data center technician, shares insights on data center layouts, cooling systems, and environmental impact to reassure residents

For Scott Yates, the land where his father built their family home by hand is more than just property – it’s sacred ground.

Google’s planned data center campus in Botetourt County, Virginia, could consume up to 8 million gallons of water daily, raising concerns about resource management and infrastructure costs in this rural community.

A plan to relocate the Botetourt History Museum from historic Fincastle to an industrial park is drawing criticism from local residents concerned about both location and design choices.

Local officials are facing mounting criticism over their handling of a Google data center project, with residents and journalists citing concerns about a lack of transparency and communication from county leadership.

Residents voiced strong opposition to Google’s proposed data center during a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, with concerns ranging from water consumption and power usage to questions about the transparency of the entire process at the 300-acre development planned for the Botetourt Center at Greenfield.